College of Charleston's Athletic Department to Terminate Swimming and Diving Programs after 2014-15 Season

After 40 seasons and three Coastal Collegiate Swim Association Conference championships (2008, 2009, & 2012), College of Charleston's NCAA Division I men's and women's swimming and diving programs will no longer compete after the 2014 – 15 season, and the 40-year-old Stern Center Pool will close after the Spring semester 2015.

C of C's Swimming and Diving

College of Charleston's athletic department came to this conclusion after reviewing a year long study of the program's finances. According to Joe Hull, athletic director, the main problem is the swimming and diving facilities. The pool requires weekly maintenance and replacing the HVAC system would cost upwards of $1.5 million. “It was concluded that the financial costs to maintain and repair the facilities were too much to overcome,” Hull said.  Click here for Hull's full statement.

“The state, as an important source of funding for our university, should be very reluctant to allow the removal of our program at the College,” diving coach Stephen Julka said in an article published on Cisternyard Media Online.

College of Charleston will still honor all scholarship commitments to the swimming and diving athletes. They will also be granted a release enabling them to compete in the 2015 – 16 season should they decide to transfer.

“A lot of people have committed four years of their loyalty to this team and now they have to consider taking that elsewhere. They've created a home here and now it's being torn apart by one decision made by a few people,” senior captain Joshua Shaffer said in an article published on Cisternyard Media Online.

The athletics department and the school's administration will provide access to recreational and competitive swimming; furthermore, the College is working with the City of Charleston to use its downtown pool facility that is currently being used by the Southern Marlins Racing Team, an affiliate of USA Swimming.

College of Charleston's swimming and diving teams still have eight regular season matchups for the remainder of the 2014 – 15 season. Two of these matchups, Jan. 23 – 24, are home games at the Stern Center Pool, so go support the Cougars and help these athletes end their season with a bang!