KOKOMO, Ind. —Women’s soccer will be the 12th sport at Indiana University Kokomo.
The team will kick off its inaugural season in August 2019, with Kokomo Municipal Stadium as its home field.
“The addition of women’s soccer at IU Kokomo is a complement to the growing interest in soccer in our region,” said Greg Cooper, athletic director. “It’s an opportunity for our local players to continue at the collegiate level, and also will attract high-quality students from around the country and internationally, who want to earn an IU degree.”
Cooper plans to have a coach hired by September 1, 2018, to have a full year to recruit from high school and travel teams. He anticipates the team will include 30 student athletes.
The Cougars will be one of two River States Conference women’s soccer teams to boast a turf playing surface, which offers more opportunities to play in wet conditions, and also reduces the chance of concussion.
“Kokomo Municipal Stadium provides an excellent venue for our new team, and we appreciate the partnership with the city of Kokomo that makes it possible for our soccer and baseball teams to play there,” he said. The amenities of the stadium also allow for a great recruiting and spectator experience for the team.
In addition to IU Kokomo, there are 10 women’s soccer teams in the River States Conference, including IU East, which started a team this fall.
Women’s soccer adds to the campus’ roster of fall sports, which also includes women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country. It also has men’s and women’s golf and women’s tennis teams that compete in short fall seasons, but primarily compete in the spring.
The Cougars also field men’s and women’s basketball teams, men’s and women’s outdoor track teams and a men’s baseball team.
IU Kokomo is a member of the NAIA.
For more information about IU athletics, or the soccer program, contact Cooper at gregcoop@iuk.edu or go to iukcougars.com.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.