AASU To Reinstate Men's Cross Country For 2009

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State athletic department announced today that it will reinstate the varsity sport of men's cross country for the 2009 season, becoming the eleventh sport sponsored by AASU.

Men's cross country will fulfill the NCAA requirement that each school sponsor at least one men's and women's sport in the three seasons of competition - fall, winter and spring. The Pirates sponsored men's cross country through the 1999 season, when it was dropped to make way for the reinstatement of the men's golf program in 2000-01.

Since then, the NCAA has passed legislation requiring the three sport sponsorship rule, and the addition of men's cross country will bring the Pirates in full compliance. AASU has been operating under a waiver allowing them to maintain their NCAA eligibility since the legislation was passed.

The head coach for the men's cross country team will also serve as the men's basketball head assistant coach, and new head men's basketball coach Jeremy Luther and interim Athletic Director Eric Faulconer are currently in a search for that coach.

AASU will be the seventh PBC team to sponsor men's cross country, joining the five that competed in 2008 - Columbus State, Clayton State, Georgia College, North Georgia and Francis Marion, along with new PBC school Flagler.

Runners interested in competing for the Pirates should contact interim AD Eric Faulconer until a coach is in place.