NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona University president Seamus Carey, Ph.D., and director of athletics Matthew Glovaski announced the addition of men’s lacrosse and women’s acrobatics & tumbling as its 22nd and 23rd intercollegiate athletic program offerings. Both sports will aim to begin competition in the 2024-25 academic year.
“It is our mission to create opportunities at Iona University for students to achieve their highest potential both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Carey. “The addition of these two highly competitive and popular varsity programs will be a tremendous benefit both for our student-athletes, and also for the campus community at large.”
“As Iona University continues to grow, we are very proud to offer these expanded opportunities for varsity intercollegiate competition to our students,” said Glovaski. “With the Northeast and in particular Westchester County and the New York Metropolitan Area being a historical hotbed for scholastic men’s lacrosse and the rise of acrobatics & tumbling as an emerging sport for women in the NCAA, these programs will integrate themselves seamlessly into the goals and aspirations of the University.”
With the goal of competition by 2024-25, Iona will look to hire coaching staffs and begin recruiting student-athletes for next year.
The addition of these programs follow Iona’s growing investment in the student experience, including recently launching a Club Sports program, a championship-winning esports club, and welcoming its first director of performing arts to enhance creative opportunities. The acquisition of Iona’s new 28-acre Bronxville, N.Y., campus nearly doubles the University’s footprint and provides additional field space and various performance venues. Aligning with the University’s brand promise to “Learn Outside the Lines,” Iona students have more opportunities than ever to pursue their passions outside of the classroom, while developing meaningful relationships around shared interests.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Seventy-six (76) Division I programs will compete in NCAA men’s lacrosse in 2022-23 following the ascension of Lindenwood and Queens University from the Division II level. St. Bonaventure and Utah were the last two Division I schools to add the sport and began competing in 2019.
Iona will compete in the MAAC for men’s lacrosse, a league that will include 10 full-time and associate members for the 2022-23 season. While the makeup of the league will look different when the Gaels are set to compete in Spring 2025, the current teams in the MAAC include: Canisius, LIU, Manhattan, Marist, Mount St. Mary’s, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Siena, VMI, and Wagner.
Iona University just completed an inaugural campaign with a club men’s lacrosse team in Spring 2022 as part of its expanded club sports program.
“With Iona University adding men’s lacrosse as a varsity sport, the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League will expand even more,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “With our 10 current teams, Iona will strengthen the league and make our already competitive league even better.”