Changes to name, image and likeness rules, roster caps and transfer portal policies are triggering unprecedented changes to collegiate athletics. Dozens of universities nationwide are navigating the changing landscape by cutting programs, many of which have traditionally served as pipelines to the Olympics.

University of the Pacific is doing the opposite—adding two new sports programs and expanding three programs to its Division I athletics department. Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, Pacific will add men’s cross country and men’s track and field, revive the men’s and women’s diving programs and expand women’s field events.

Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor developed the innovative expansion as part of a long-term plan to position Pacific as a leading competitor in the West Coast Conference while supporting the university’s enrollment initiatives.

Tschuor joined Pacific in 2023 from the University of Dayton where he was the No. 2 sports executive and has already made significant changes, leading several Pacific Tiger programs to their best seasons in more than a decade.

“We owe it to our student-athletes, campus and community to come up with a way to navigate these changes not by cutting, but by growing,” Tschuor said. “These sports additions are the first step in a plan of growth that will transform Pacific for the better—in enrollment, campus life, engagement and competitive success.”

The expansion will increase Pacific’s sports offerings to 19 total programs and an additional 82 student-athletes.

“At Pacific, we are focused on creating access and opportunity for more students to succeed,” said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. “While other schools are bolstering their football and basketball programs by cutting other athletics programs, we want to take a different path that measures success not just in championships, but in opportunities created.”

Student-athletes at Pacific make strong contributions to the university’s academic programs with an average GPA of 3.37. Eight programs had a 100% graduation rate in the most recent Graduation Success Rate report from the NCAA. Student-athletes also contribute significantly to undergraduate research and internship programs.

“Our students’ athletic training teaches them exceptional discipline, time-management skills and perseverance, which they bring into the classroom,” said Balint Sztaray, a chemistry professor and the university’s faculty athletics representative. “That commitment to balancing rigorous practice and competition schedules while pursuing their degrees makes them excellent students who enrich our campus community.”

Tschuor estimates about 70 NCAA athletics programs have been eliminated from universities in the last year.

Rocky Harris, executive vice president and chief of sport and athlete services at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, praised Pacific’s innovative response to the fast-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics.

"I want to commend President Callahan, Director of Athletics Tschuor and everyone at University of the Pacific for taking a bold approach to collegiate athletics—one of support and growth,” Harris said. “The impacts of collegiate sport are far greater than performance, and Pacific recognized that offering broad based education and sport opportunities makes their student and university community stronger.

“It's no secret that we believe in the power of sport and work hard to support its growth. At the same time, we understand the challenges of effectively allocating resources. Pacific has shown that these concepts can work successfully together—and I am thrilled for the current and future student athletes who call Pacific home."

Men’s cross country and men’s track and field will operate alongside existing women’s programs under Head Coach Josh Jones. The diving programs will join the men’s and women’s swimming programs under Head Coach Katelyne Herrington, who led the men’s swim team to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship this year.

For information about joining the newly added sports programs, contact Jones at jjones@pacific.edu for track and Herrington at kherrington@pacific.edu for diving.

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