Athletics

USF ATHLETICS ANNOUNCED THE ADDITION of two women’s sport programs in a three-month span: women’s lacrosse, starting in 2022-23, and beach volleyball, beginning in 2024-25.

They will bring the total number of Bulls’ women’s athletics teams to 12 and USF’s total varsity sports program count to 21.

“Adding two new sports represents a great step forward for women’s athletics at the University of South Florida,” says USF President Rhea Law, ’77, Life Member. “Lacrosse and beach volleyball have proven to be highly competitive, immensely popular sports at the intercollegiate and Olympic level. And the participation of our female student-athletes makes all of us better at USF — their hard work, talent and impressive achievements are part of the fabric of this university.”

The Bulls’ teams will play home games for lacrosse at Corbett Stadium and beach volleyball at a new facility to be constructed on the USF campus.

“We are very excited to add lacrosse and beach volleyball to a strong lineup of women’s sports programs and opportunities for female student-athletes to compete at a very high level and win championships at USF,” says Mike Kelly, vice president of USF Athletics. “Our current women’s programs have garnered 59 conference championships and we are making USF a destination for successful female collegiate athletes. I think our fans and the community will enjoy the addition of these highly entertaining and growing women’s sports and we will invest the necessary resources to be very competitive.”

Women’s varsity athletics began at USF in 1972 with the start of the women’s basketball program. USF’s conference titles in women’s athletics have come from eight different sports, including tennis (13), volleyball (12), softball (eight), soccer (seven), golf (six), track and field (six), cross country (five) and basketball (two).

THE STAMPEDE FOR WOMEN — an initiative focused on generating funds, raising awareness and creating opportunities to support USF women student-athletes — is picking up steam.

It sold out its kickoff luncheon, coinciding with National Girls and Women in Sports Day in February, at the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center. The gathering provided an up-close look at the initiative’s progress and goals while

charting a course for its future.

More than $150,000 has been raised since the Stampede was introduced in February 2021. Last summer, Bulls football coach Jeff Scott made a $10,000 donation following an event with his football team and Denise Schilte-Brown’s AAC champion women’s soccer team.

Fundraising will generate money for scholarships, career development and capital improvements, while seeking dedicated donors for the growth of USF women’s athletics. And it provides momentum for an athletics department that already has major projects under way, such as construction of the Indoor Performance Facility, renovations to the outdoor track and baseball and softball facilities, and planning for a proposed on-campus stadium.

Supporters of the Stampede also hope to establish a fresh community of female leaders in the Bay area who could become professional mentors for USF student-athletes. The program appeals to males who see the benefit of expanded women’s athletics, particularly if they are fathers of sports-loving daughters.

“We want to grow our resources and support for women’s athletics,’’ says Michael Kelly, USF vice president of athletics, who announced the addition of beach volleyball as the school’s 12th women’s sport after previously announcing plans for women’s lacrosse in the 2023-24 school year. “There’s an opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships between community members and our women student-athletes. We want people to know about the great accomplishments happening with our women’s teams because they are doing big, big things.’’

There have been 59 conference championships, top25 rankings, NCAA Tournament bids, national television appearances and All-America honorees. Clearly, women’s athletics at USF have established a winning brand. For signs of progress, you could point to a stunning threeweek juncture last summer.

Former USF women’s basketball player Courtney Williams, ’16, was named to the WNBA All-Star Team and scored 15 points in the game. USF coach Ken Eriksen, ’84, earned a silver medal with his U.S. softball team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Former USF student-athlete Evelyne Viens, ’19, earned an Olympic gold medal as a member of Team Canada, which defeated Sweden in the women’s soccer championship match.

“I’m so proud of all of our current athletes, but also the former female athletes, who continue to put USF on the map,’’ says public-relations executive and former USF golfer Sally Dee, ’94 and MBA ’11, Life Member, a member of the Stampede for Women’s steering committee. “We don’t have professional sports that are very sustainable in women’s athletics, but our athletes go on to success in the corporate world and they become winners in life. Just imagine the ripple effect in our community.”