Central State University receives funding from First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball to launch new men's program
WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- Central State University President Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond and Director of Athletics
Tara A. Owens announced that CSU will add men's volleyball as one of its NCAA Div. II sponsored sports beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
The addition of men's volleyball was announced at a press conference on the CSU campus along with the news that CSU has received a $150,000 gift from First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball to support the new program.
"It continues to be important for us as an institution to step forward and provide opportunities for a diverse group of students," said President Jackson-Hammond. "With all the schools that have added men's volleyball in Ohio and around the country, it is a great time for us to commit to adding this sport. We are thankful for the support of First Point Volleyball and USA Volleyball as we embark on this new path."
Anthony Holloman, Chairman of the SIAC Committee on Men's Volleyball announced that a total of six colleges from the SIAC, all HBCUs, will be announcing the addition of the sport. Wade Garard, CEO of First Point Volleyball Foundation. total investment of $1 million is being made ($600,000 from First Point Volleyball Foundation and $400,000 from USA Volleyball) to support the six colleges and the league in starting the sport.
"We are so pleased to make a gift to Central State University. President Jackson-Hammond and Director of Athletics Tara Owens are committed to providing more opportunities for young people to mature and develop through athletics," said Garard. "That is the kind of mission we are proud to support. We have volleyball donors from all over the country that are making this grant possible."
Director Owens acknowledged the support of FPVF and USA Volleyball while also announcing that a national search will begin immediately for a new head coach.
"First and foremost, we thank the First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball for providing the opportunity and funding for Central State to explore the possibility of adding men's volleyball. We have done our diligence in exploring whether men's volleyball would be a good fit for us. With the vision and leadership of President Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, we continue to find ways to grow this institution," Owens said. "With the increased popularity of men's volleyball throughout the state of Ohio, we believe we will be a great destination for high school student-athletes to continue to compete as a Central State Marauder. We met with John Speraw, head coach of the USA Men's National Team and we attended several matches in person. Men's volleyball is an explosive and dynamic strength-sport. I believe it will be very popular on campus and we will attract student-athletes from all over the world to Central State. Over the next few months, we begin our coaching search with the goal of finding an individual to lead CSU's newest team."
Sharon Clark, President-Elect of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, discussed AVCA's enthusiasm with CSU's announcement.
"On behalf of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, we are so pleased to be part of this historic announcements," said Sharon Clark, President-Elect of AVCA. "The AVCA will be here to support CSU get off to a great start, grow and thrive."
John Speraw, head coach of the USA Men's National team and UCLA's head coach, echoed his support of CSU's vision.
"We all want more opportunities for young people in this country to compete in collegiate athletics," said Speraw. "When we founded First Point Volleyball Foundation we envisioned supporting growth in NCAA DII. CSU leadership has been terrific in committing to exploring this opportunity. It is exciting for us to see men's volleyball becoming a reality at Central State University.
Men's volleyball will be the eleventh sport offered at Central State University. CSU currently fields teams in women's volleyball, football, men's cross country, women's cross country, women's basketball, men's basketball, women's indoor track & field, men's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field and men's outdoor track & field.
About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 14 member institutions (Albany State University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous six-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.
About First Point Volleyball Foundation
Founded in 2016 by Wade Garard and John Speraw, Head Coach of the USA Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball, First Point Volleyball Foundation exists to provide opportunities for young people to mature and develop through volleyball. Specifically focused on growing boys' and men's volleyball in the United States, First Point Volleyball Foundation initiates and celebrates FIRST POINTS whether that is a first point of a new NCAA team, or a new high school team, or a first point of competitive volleyball for a 12-year-old. First Point Volleyball has raised $3.1 million in less than three years and has helped start 17 new collegiate men's volleyball programs. The Foundation has three strategic initiatives: (1) Growing collegiate opportunities; (2) Growing high school boys' opportunities; and (3) Extending our Reach Diversity Initiative – expanding volleyball opportunities to boys and men of color.
www.firstpointvolleyball.com.
About USA Volleyball
Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) as the National Governing Body for the volleyball disciplines of beach, indoor, sitting, snow and beach Para Volley in the United States. With more than 370,000 registered members, USA Volleyball conducts national championship events, coaching and referee certification programs, and grassroots development across all disciplines in a lifetime sport in which all can participate. USA Volleyball's teams have won an Olympic medal in every Olympic Games since 1984, four Paralympic medals since 2004 and numerous World Cup, World Championship and Continental Championship titles. For more information on USA Volleyball, visit www.usavolleyball.org. #PathtothePodium
About Boys' and Men's Volleyball in the United States
Boys' volleyball is exploding. It is the fastest growing team sport in the United States for high school boys, growing at 22% over the last five years. The 2nd fastest growing sport grew by only 10% and football decreased 9% over the same five-year period. With 63,563 boys playing high school now it is projected that 100,000 boys will be playing by 2026. Minnesota added 1,000 boys volleyball players and 51 high school teams in the last two years alone. Colorado just officially sanctioned boys' high school volleyball and sanctioning initiatives and pilots are underway
in 18 additional states. New Men's Volleyball programs have been initiated in 80 universities in the last five years alone – mostly at the DII, DIII, and NAIA levels. In 2018, First Point Volleyball Foundation provided Saint Francis College- Brooklyn (a Division I institution) a $100,000 grant to add Men's Volleyball beginning in 2019-2020.
