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Prospective ECU Lacrosse Student-Athlete Questionnaire

Official US Lacrosse Website l Official NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Website

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina University will add women's lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport with competition to begin in the 2017-18 academic year according to an announcement by director of athletics Jeff Compher on Wednesday.

The addition of women's lacrosse will increase East Carolina's cumulative varsity sport count to 20 and represent the 11th women's athletic program.

"Today we celebrate the addition of women's lacrosse to our Pirate family," Compher said. "This exciting sport allows East Carolina to expand women's athletics opportunities at the Division I level. Women's lacrosse continues to grow in popularity and participation throughout North Carolina and the nation and we are confident that Pirate fans will enthusiastically support our new team as we build the program over the next several years."

The initial phase of the women's lacrosse implementation timeline includes development strategies, a national search for the hiring of a head coach and staff, and student-athlete recruitment with an anticipated first season of varsity competition slated for the spring of 2018.

The average women's lacrosse roster consists of 28 individuals and ECU plans to meet the maximum of 12 equivalency scholarships via annual increments.

From a facility standpoint, ECU Athletics will utilize the same venue for soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring since each program competes at alternate times of the year. Team locker rooms, meeting space and athletic training amenities are already on site at the Williams-Harvey Teams Building adjacent to the playing field.

NCAA Division I lacrosse currently features 111 women's programs and the sport boasts one of the top graduation success rates (GSR) among all NCAA Division I sports. According to NCAA figures released last year, women's lacrosse posted a four-year class average GSR of 95 percent, which ranks among the best of all 18 NCAA-sanctioned sports.

US Lacrosse also reports that lacrosse is the fastest growing sport for girls in high schools across the country, with a 29.8 percent increase of institutions sponsoring the sport from 2010 to 2015. It also is the fastest growing sport for women at the collegiate level, with a 33.6 percent increase in NCAA institutions sponsoring the sport from 2010 to 2015, according to US Lacrosse.

"The addition of varsity lacrosse at East Carolina University is a wonderful acknowledgement of the sport's continued growth in popularity and relevance," US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen said. "We're thankful for the university's commitment to lacrosse and for the many student-athletes who will have the opportunity to build a strong lacrosse tradition at ECU."

East Carolina becomes the eighth university in the state of North Carolina with a varsity women's lacrosse program, joining Campbell, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Gardner-Webb, High Point and UNC. Including neighboring South Carolina and Virginia, there are a combined 19 programs playing at the NCAA Division I level. Among American Athletic Conference members, Cincinnati, Connecticut and Temple each field teams.

Women's lacrosse is currently offered as a club sport at ECU and has a team roster of over 40 members. At the state prep level, 102 high school girls lacrosse programs compete for a North Carolina High School Athletic Association-recognized championship that has been in existence since 2010.

The implementation of a Pirate lacrosse program supports ECU's enduring mission to invest in comprehensive intercollegiate competition opportunities for female student-athletes.

Women's lacrosse marks the first addition of a varsity sport at East Carolina since women's golf began competition in the 2000-01 academic year.

"We have great leadership in athletics and we look forward to expanding both the number and quality of our programs there," ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard said. "We have an excellent club lacrosse team to build upon and this sport is certainly growing in the communities of North Carolina. We expect to be successful in all aspects of this important growth opportunity."

Mike Hanley, ECU's Associate Athletics Director for Student Services, will serve as the sport's primary administrator.

Updates concerning the implementation of the program will be posted on this site as developments warrant.

FAQs ABOUT LACROSSE AT EAST CAROLINA

WHY IS ECU ADDING A SPORT?
To support ECU's enduring mission to invest in comprehensive intercollegiate competition opportunities for female student-athletes. The development of the Terry Holland Sports Complex in 2011 supported women's soccer, women's track and softball, and the addition of lacrosse is the next step.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ECU EXPANDED ITS SPORTS PROGRAMS?
Women's golf began competition in 2000, and before that, women's soccer was added as a varsity sport in 1994.

WHY LACROSSE?
Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport for women at the collegiate level, with a 33.6 percent increase in NCAA institutions sponsoring the sport from 2010 to 2015. From a recruiting standpoint, it is also the fastest growing sport for girls in high schools across the country, with a 29.8 percent increase of institutions sponsoring the sport from 2010 to 2015.

WHAT IS LACROSSE'S POPULARITY AT ECU AND IN NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOLS?
Women's lacrosse is currently offered as a club sport at ECU and has a team roster of over 40 members. At the state prep level, 102 high school girls lacrosse programs compete for a North Carolina High School Athletic Association-recognized championship that has been in existence since 2010.

ARE THERE ENOUGH TEAMS TO SCHEDULE, REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY?
There are currently seven universities in the state of North Carolina with a Division I varsity women's lacrosse program, including Campbell, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Gardner-Webb, High Point and UNC. Including neighboring South Carolina and Virginia, there are a combined 19 teams playing at the NCAA level. Overall, there are 111 NCAA Division I women's lacrosse programs.

ARE THERE ANY AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE LACROSSE?
Yes. Cincinnati, Connecticut and Temple each field teams and currently compete in the Big East Conference along with Florida, Georgetown, Marquette, Vanderbilt, Villanova and Butler (beginning in 2017). We will explore our options for joining a conference over the next year with the intent of playing in the same conference as our sister (AAC) schools.

WILL YOU BE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY FOR PRACTICES AND GAMES?
No. ECU Athletics is fortunate to be able to utilize the same venue for soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring since each program competes at alternate times of the year. Team locker rooms, meeting space and athletic training amenities are already on site at the Williams-Harvey Teams Building adjacent to the playing field.

WHEN IS THE FIRST SEASON OF COMPETITION?
The 2017-18 academic year will serve as the Pirates' inaugural season. Again, lacrosse is a spring sport, thus its first schedule will run from February to May, 2018.

WHEN WILL A COACHING STAFF BE IN PLACE?
ECU will conduct a national search to identify and subsequently hire a head coach early during the 2016-17 academic year. Following the appointment of the head coach, two assistant coaching positions will be filled.

HOW MANY ROSTER POSITIONS (PLAYERS) DOES WOMEN'S LACROSSE HAVE?
A full women's lacrosse roster usually includes 28 student-athletes. Twelve (12) play on the field at the same time during game competition.

WILL THERE BE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN'S LACROSSE? IF SO, HOW MANY?
ECU intends to meet the maximum of 12 equivalency scholarships via annual increments.

HOW IS ECU PAYING FOR IT? WILL ANOTHER SPORT BE ELIMINATED TO MAKE ROOM FOR LACROSSE?
Absolutely not. In addition to increasing revenue sources (ticket sales, Pirate Club, IMG), we will be diligent in the management of our budget. The addition (and resource assistance) of women's lacrosse was included in our recent negotiations and contract with adidas.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IF I WANT TO PLAY (OR BE RECRUITED)?
All updates and announcements concerning the development of the women's lacrosse program will be posted on www.ECUPirates.com on a timely basis. We have included an online questionnaire for prospective student-athletes and soon will announce the start of the head coaching search.

ONLINE MIGHT BE CONVENIENT, BUT IS THERE A SPECIFIC POINT OF CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS?
Mike Hanley, ECU's Associate Athletics Director for Student Services, will serve as the primary sport administrator for women's lacrosse. He can be reached via email at hanleym@ecu.edu or by phone at (252) 737-4603.