Murray State University Athletics
Five New Sport Programs Approved by Murray State University Board of Regents
6/17/2026 8:07:00 AM | General
Racer Athletics to begin process of on-boarding new programs as soon as Fall 2027
After a thorough analysis of future departmental growth and campus enrollment strategies, Murray State Athletics is proud to announce that it will be expanding its sports offerings ahead of the 2027-28 season after receiving approval from the University Board of Regents on Friday, June 12.
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The five new, non-scholarship sport programs the Racers will add are: Women's Stunt, Women's Beach Volleyball, Women's Rowing, Women's Bowling, and Men's Tennis. In total, the new additions can bring up to 171 new students to campus and expand the visibility of the Murray State brand through new emerging sport offerings.
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"Launching these five new sport programs is about much more than athletics—it is a strategic investment in the long-term growth and vitality of our university," Murray State University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. "These programs will expand access to higher education, attract new students to our campus and create opportunities for young people to develop as leaders, scholars and competitors."
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"As we continue leading the pack in everything that we do, we must think boldly about how athletics can support the broader mission of our university, community and region through this new bifurcated model," Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. "The addition of five new programs is a strategic move that will expand opportunities for student-athletes while creating a significant enrollment pipeline for Murray State. In today's collegiate landscape, successful athletics departments are those that align competitive excellence with institutional growth, and this initiative accomplishes both."
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Below is a breakdown of each proposed new sport for the Racers:
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WOMEN'S STUNT
Stunt is regarded as one of the fastest-growing sports in the NCAA, crossing the benchmark of 40 schools meeting minimum contest and participant requirements in its first year as an emerging sport in all three divisions. It joined the Emerging Sports for Women program in 2023. Stunt transforms traditional cheerleading skills into a head-to-head, four-quarter format emphasizing athleticism and precision. Teams compete in partner stunts, pyramids, and jumps and tumbling, with points awarded based on execution.
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BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Known as sand volleyball prior to being recognized as a championship sport in 2015, beach volleyball has rapidly grown since its time as an emerging sport. The sport grew rapidly in popularity due to the global rise of beach volleyball through the Olympics and increased youth participation across the United States. NCAA beach volleyball competition is played in duals, with 10 student-athletes split into five pairs and up to three coaches.
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WOMEN'S ROWING
Murray State carried rowing as a varsity program beginning in 1998 until 2008 when it was discontinued. The NCAA officially recognized women's rowing as an NCAA championship sport in 1996, marking a major milestone in the continued growth of the sport. Since becoming an NCAA sport, women's rowing has grown into one of the premier collegiate endurance and team sports, with championship competition divided into Division I, II, and III levels.
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WOMEN'S BOWLING
Women's bowling became one of the NCAA's emerging women's sports in the late 1990s before earning official NCAA championship status in 2003. The sport has grown rapidly at the collegiate level due to increasing youth participation, strong regional support in bowling-rich areas of the United States, and expanded opportunities for student-athletes. Uniquely, the NCAA hosts only one combined National Collegiate Championship rather than separate divisional tournaments. There are currently just under 100 programs throughout the country.
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MEN'S TENNIS
Murray State last carried men's tennis as an NCAA varsity sport during the 2015–16 academic year. The program had a long and successful history dating back to 1954, winning 19 Ohio Valley Conference championships during its existence. The program was led by Racer legends Bennie Purcell and Mel Purcell for five decades.
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Murray State Athletics has raised $44.25 million dollars in support of new facilities, initiatives and championship resources, a total that has been made possible by 16, seven-figure gifts.
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The $44.25 million is committed towards the department's bold, comprehensive $100 million fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack, which was created to further position itself for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and world-class facilities.
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Learn more about how you can support the campaign by clicking HERE.
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Follow the Racers on X (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State At
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The five new, non-scholarship sport programs the Racers will add are: Women's Stunt, Women's Beach Volleyball, Women's Rowing, Women's Bowling, and Men's Tennis. In total, the new additions can bring up to 171 new students to campus and expand the visibility of the Murray State brand through new emerging sport offerings.
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"Launching these five new sport programs is about much more than athletics—it is a strategic investment in the long-term growth and vitality of our university," Murray State University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. "These programs will expand access to higher education, attract new students to our campus and create opportunities for young people to develop as leaders, scholars and competitors."
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"As we continue leading the pack in everything that we do, we must think boldly about how athletics can support the broader mission of our university, community and region through this new bifurcated model," Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. "The addition of five new programs is a strategic move that will expand opportunities for student-athletes while creating a significant enrollment pipeline for Murray State. In today's collegiate landscape, successful athletics departments are those that align competitive excellence with institutional growth, and this initiative accomplishes both."
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Below is a breakdown of each proposed new sport for the Racers:
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WOMEN'S STUNT
Stunt is regarded as one of the fastest-growing sports in the NCAA, crossing the benchmark of 40 schools meeting minimum contest and participant requirements in its first year as an emerging sport in all three divisions. It joined the Emerging Sports for Women program in 2023. Stunt transforms traditional cheerleading skills into a head-to-head, four-quarter format emphasizing athleticism and precision. Teams compete in partner stunts, pyramids, and jumps and tumbling, with points awarded based on execution.
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BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Known as sand volleyball prior to being recognized as a championship sport in 2015, beach volleyball has rapidly grown since its time as an emerging sport. The sport grew rapidly in popularity due to the global rise of beach volleyball through the Olympics and increased youth participation across the United States. NCAA beach volleyball competition is played in duals, with 10 student-athletes split into five pairs and up to three coaches.
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WOMEN'S ROWING
Murray State carried rowing as a varsity program beginning in 1998 until 2008 when it was discontinued. The NCAA officially recognized women's rowing as an NCAA championship sport in 1996, marking a major milestone in the continued growth of the sport. Since becoming an NCAA sport, women's rowing has grown into one of the premier collegiate endurance and team sports, with championship competition divided into Division I, II, and III levels.
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WOMEN'S BOWLING
Women's bowling became one of the NCAA's emerging women's sports in the late 1990s before earning official NCAA championship status in 2003. The sport has grown rapidly at the collegiate level due to increasing youth participation, strong regional support in bowling-rich areas of the United States, and expanded opportunities for student-athletes. Uniquely, the NCAA hosts only one combined National Collegiate Championship rather than separate divisional tournaments. There are currently just under 100 programs throughout the country.
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MEN'S TENNIS
Murray State last carried men's tennis as an NCAA varsity sport during the 2015–16 academic year. The program had a long and successful history dating back to 1954, winning 19 Ohio Valley Conference championships during its existence. The program was led by Racer legends Bennie Purcell and Mel Purcell for five decades.
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Murray State Athletics has raised $44.25 million dollars in support of new facilities, initiatives and championship resources, a total that has been made possible by 16, seven-figure gifts.
Â
The $44.25 million is committed towards the department's bold, comprehensive $100 million fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack, which was created to further position itself for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and world-class facilities.
Â
Learn more about how you can support the campaign by clicking HERE.
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Follow the Racers on X (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State At
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