ERAU To Add Men's & Women's Cross Country, Softball

With the addition of men’s and women’s cross country and women’s fast-pitch softball for the 2013-2014 academic year, the Embry-Riddle Prescott Campus will be looking for more student athletes and hiring coaches as the school readies for its June debut in the Cal Pac Conference.

“We are excited about the athletic additions of these sports programs to our department and looking forward to building competitive teams,” Ted Blake, Embry-Riddle’s director of intercollegiate athletics, said of the April 20 announcement.  “This is a very exciting time for the athletic department and our student-athletes.”

Embry-Riddle now features nine sports, five of which are available to women.

Effective immediately Embry-Riddle will launch a nationwide search to select a head coach for each athletic program. Coaches will have a full year to recruit for their respective teams’ intercollegiate competitions in the Cal Pac Conference.

Frank Ayers, executive vice president of the Prescott campus, believes the addition of cross country and fast-pitch softball programs will further develop the school’s athletic offerings while expanding in the spirit of competitiveness.

"We have a strong tradition of scholar-athletes," Ayers said. "As a new member of the Cal Pac athletic conference, we believe we will attract new students who share in that competitive spirit and excel in the classroom."