South Dakota State University officials announced Tuesday that men’s and women’s tennis will be discontinued as varsity sports, effective at the end of the current academic year.
Athletic Director Justin Sell says a lack of quality facilities, either on campus or in the Brookings community, were a primary focus when evaluating the future of the tennis programs.
The decision to discontinue men’s and women’s tennis will not affect SDSU’s membership in The Summit League or NCAA Division I. SDSU will continue to sponsor 19 varsity sports – 16 of which compete in The Summit League.
A total of 19 student-athletes, one full-time coach and a graduate assistant coach will be affected by the decision. The scholarships of all student-athletes who choose to continue their studies at SDSU will be honored, while assistance will be provided in the transfer process for those looking to compete elsewhere.
Tennis was first played at South Dakota State in the 1920s, with a women’s program first established in 1967. Both men’s and women’s programs were previously discontinued in 1983 before being reinstated in 1991.
