HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The University of Rio Grande announced Tuesday morning that it will reinstate its football program.
The last time the school had a football team was in 1950.
President Ryan Smith said the team plans to play starting in the fall of 2025.
The university has applied to compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, which includes Kentucky Christian University and the University of Pikeville.
Smith said they are also starting a marching band program and are hiring for head coach and marching band director positions.
He said the team will initially play home games at Jackson High School and eventually play on a new field on campus.
“I think it's definitely going to be a boost for the whole area,” Smith said.
The President said one of the reasons this was possible was the increase in enrollment.
Athletic Director Jeff Lanham said the initial stages include building locker rooms and hiring a head coach.
“We're looking for people who have culture in mind,” Lanham said. “We want to have a good culture here on campus. We want people who have been through something like this before, who have been through a program starting from a brand new state. I’m here.”
The move is expected to add 150 to 200 new students to NAIA schools.
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