Eastern New Mexico University to add Men's Soccer for 2004 Season

New Team Will Give ENMU 15 Varsity Sports

PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico University will add men's soccer as a varsity intercollegiate sport starting in 2004-05, ENMU President Steven Gamble announced today. Eastern's new team will compete in the Southwest Soccer Conference and NCAA Division II. The Greyhounds will begin their first season in the fall of 2004.

"We have made an effort in the past couple of years to add sports that are of interest to student-athletes in our region, will attract new students to ENMU and will be exciting for our fans," Dr. Gamble said. "We are confident that men's soccer meets all of those criteria."

The addition of men's soccer follows the return of men's and women's track and field to ENMU this past spring, plus the inaugural season of women's soccer this fall. When men's soccer begins playing, Eastern will have 15 varsity sports, with 13 competing in the NCAA and men's and women's rodeo competing in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA).

Travis McCorkle, who was named ENMU's first ever women's soccer coach this past spring, will take on additional duties as head coach of the men's soccer team. Recruiting for next year's team will begin immediately. An assistant coach for the men's soccer team will be hired prior to the end of the current semester.

Eastern will be a charter member of the new Southwest Soccer Conference for men's soccer. ENMU and three other Lone Star Conference teams will join three teams from the Heartland Conference and one team from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association to create the new league. Home matches for the Hounds will be held at the ENMU Soccer Field, which is under construction and should be ready prior to the 2004 season.

"We're excited about men's soccer as the next sport for ENMU", Athletic Director Mike Maguire said. "The team will give us additional exposure throughout the region and will provide another sport that has become increasingly popular in New Mexico and neighboring states.

"We are pleased that Coach McCorkle will lead the team," Maguire continued. "We are certain he will do the same outstanding job of recruiting and coaching that he has done with the women's soccer team."

McCorkle looks forward to the excitement of starting men's soccer at Eastern. He also accepts the challenge of scheduling games and coordinating practices as the head coach of both soccer teams.

"It has been so rewarding to begin the women's soccer program at Eastern New Mexico University this year," McCorkle said. "I know that our efforts in preparing for the men's team in 2004 will be equally thrilling.

"I am encouraged by the University's support of soccer, and I know we will recruit many talented student-athletes between now and next fall," McCorkle said. "Coaching both teams will be a difficult task, but I am ready for the challenge. I will rely on my assistant coaches to help with the administrative and coaching duties of our two teams."

ENMU will offer athletic scholarships in men's soccer. Interested high school and junior college players should contact Coach McCorkle at (505) 562-2275 for more information.

Charter Members of the

Southwest Soccer Conference

From the Lone Star Conference

Eastern New Mexico University

Midwestern State University

Northeastern State University

West Texas A&M University

From the Heartland Conference

University of the Incarnate Word

St. Edward's University

St. Mary's University

From the Mid-America Intercollegiate

Athletics Association

Missouri Southern State College