© 2026 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Kent State University is Keeping All Sports and Adding One More

KSU's men's basketball will become the university's flagship sport.
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
KSU's men's basketball will become the university's flagship sport.
KSU's men's basketball will become the university's flagship sport.
Credit KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
/
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
KSU's men's basketball will become the university's flagship sport.

A study ofKent State University’s athletic programis complete, and no sports are being cut. In fact, women’s lacrosse will be added in 2018.   The results of the nearly two-year review of athletics was presented to the university’s board of trustees today. 

Kent State Athletic Director Joel Nielson says all 18 sports programs will continue to receive funding, but emphasis will be focused on men’s basketball, because it has been the most successful. He says basketball will become the university’s flagship sport for attracting local and national attention and hopefully added revenue. And that means major renovations to the 66-year-old arena where the team plays.

“As we look at priority fundraising facility-wise and that sort of thing, we’re going to focus on men’s basketball, which means the MAC Center in the future. Adding a women’s sport is important to this plan. And women’s lacrosse is new and it’s fairly hot in this area.”

Neilson says there will also be added emphasis on student athlete well-being, academics, and on generating more excitement at sporting events. He says the private sector will be called on to fund much of the costs.

Copyright 2021 WKSU. To see more, visit WKSU.

Kevin Niedermier
Kevin was raised in New Washington in rural North Central Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University and Ashland College (now Ashland University) before beginning his career in commercial radio news.