RADFORD, Virginia – Radford University's Athletics Department announced Monday, May 12, that it is restructuring the athletics program with the intent to grow its NCAA Division I intercollegiate program by offering high-quality sports that appeal to a greater number of student-athletes.
"As college athletics evolves, the costs of scholarships, dedicated facilities, travel expenses and overall operating budgets continue to escalate," said Robert Lineburg, Director of Athletics. "In this environment, the allocation of resources requires greater strategic focus."
This restructuring includes three steps: establishing distance-focused intercollegiate men's indoor and outdoor track and field programs for the 2025-26 academic year, creating women's flag football as a club sport this fall, and discontinuing the intercollegiate men's and women's tennis programs. The university's Board of Visitors will review this decision at its June 5-6 quarterly meetings and, if approved by board vote, these changes will be effective immediately.
"Radford University Athletics is committed to refocusing our athletics program to support the strategic priorities of our university," Lineburg said. "By establishing Division I scholarship programs for men's indoor and outdoor track and field along with a women's flag football program, we will meet the needs and interests of more student-athletes."
Beginning next year, athletes currently rostered or preparing to join the men's cross country team for 2025-26 will compete in indoor and outdoor men's track and field, including Big South Conference championships. Women's flag football will be introduced as a club program this fall, with plans to grow it into an intercollegiate varsity sport. The NCAA recently recommended elevating flag football into the Emerging Sports for Women category, and the sport is scheduled for inclusion in the lineup at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
"We made the difficult decision to discontinue our tennis program following a thoughtful analysis and with a heavy heart," Lineburg said. "Our tennis student-athletes have admirably represented Radford University since 1974, and we appreciate their many contributions. They have won Big South championships, have made NCAA tournament appearances and have helped set the standard for academic achievement among all our sports programs. Tennis athletes Chris Nelson-O'Keefe, Mike Perrone and Martin Sayer, and legendary women's tennis coach Tom Hondras will carry on the legacy of these programs as Radford Athletics Hall of Fame members, along with former coach Mike Anderson, who led the men's team to a number of championships. We are grateful to women's head coach and alumna Grace Reed and her coaching staff, and interim men's head coach Chris Leeper and his coaching staff for all the hard work they have put into leading these programs and mentoring our student-athletes."
Scholarship commitments will be honored for any tennis student-athletes who choose to stay at Radford University.
Restructuring Athletics FAQ
Who made this decision?
Radford University's Athletics Department made the restructuring recommendation to university leadership as part of the department's five-year strategic planning process. The university's Board of Visitors will review this decision at its June 5-6 quarterly meetings and, if approved by board vote, the proposed plan will go into effect immediately.
Why is Radford University doing this?
The decision to restructure the athletics program comes as Radford Athletics is engaged in a five-year strategic planning process. The goals of this effort are to offer sports that appeal to a greater number of student-athletes and allow the university to leverage existing personnel and facilities.
Establishing men's indoor and outdoor track and field and women's flag football and discontinuing the men's and women's tennis programs will enable the university to take steps toward achieving these goals.
Why is the university establishing a new program in men's indoor and outdoor track and field?
Initially, the distance-focused indoor and outdoor track and field teams for men will be able to utilize athletes currently rostered or preparing to join the cross country team in fall 2025. Approximately 15 athletes would compete across the three sports (cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field) and in the championship events hosted by the Big South Conference; Radford is the only current Big South member that does not compete in men's track and field. Track and field is a popular high school sport, and Radford's programs will have wide appeal to prospective student-athletes.
Why is the university establishing a women's flag football program?
Women's flag football is growing in popularity on a national and even international scale. The NCAA recently recommended elevating flag football into the Emerging Sports for Women category, and the sport is scheduled for inclusion in the lineup at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Significant support from the National Football League and USA Football are helping to drive interest and champion the sport's future. The anticipated roster size for a flag football team is between 20 to 30 athletes, creating new competition opportunities for women at Radford University.
Why is tennis being discontinued?
As part of a recently completed program review and strategic plan under development by Radford University's Athletics Department, we have determined that the tennis programs would likely continue to struggle to remain competitive in the coming years at current funding levels, with existing facilities. Discontinuing tennis will enable the reallocation of resources to other competitive sports programs with broader appeal.
What will happen to the tennis student-athletes?
They will have the option to remain at Radford and complete their degree here, in which case their scholarships would be honored. They will also have the option to transfer to other universities to play tennis and would be supported in this endeavor as well. In addition to receiving assistance from their coaching staffs during this transition, all tennis student-athletes have access to student counseling services and resources available to them through the university.
What will happen to the tennis coaches and their coaching staffs?
The men's tennis team does not currently have a head coach under contract. Our women's tennis coach will remain employed for the duration of her contract and assist the tennis student-athletes during this transition.
How long has Radford University had intercollegiate tennis programs?
Radford University has competed in intercollegiate varsity men's and women's tennis since 1974. The Big South Conference began hosting championships in men's tennis in 1985 and women's tennis in 1987 – the Highlanders have competed in each Big South season since then.
When was the last time Radford Athletics discontinued a sports program?
In its February 2014 quarterly meetings, the Radford University Board of Visitors voted to discontinue four NCAA Division I programs: field hockey, women's swimming and diving, and men's indoor and outdoor track and field. In the same meeting, the board voted to add women's lacrosse, which played its inaugural intercollegiate season in 2016.
Will any other sports be discontinued?
At this time, Radford University does not have plans to discontinue any other sports.
Could the tennis program be saved through fundraising?
To be successful, the university would need to raise funds that are significantly more than the annual operating costs of the tennis program. These funds would be needed for both year-to-year and ongoing expenses. Inflation and facility requirements to support a competitive tennis program pose additional challenges.
