FAMU suspends men’s tennis and men’s golf teams

The FAMU Department of Athletics announced Wednesday afternoon that it will suspend the men’s tennis and men’s golf programs as part of the institution’s ongoing efforts to address the operational deficit in athletics, as well as Title IX disparities.

“Clearly we would rather not have taken such action,” said FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow. “However, our current fiscal situation makes it imperative for us to move in this direction. As we continue to support our student-athletes with scholarships in pursuit of their academic goals, we will continue to seek ways to return them to athletic competition.”

All scholarship commitments to current student-athletes will be honored for the 2014-15 school year.

As a result of the decision, coupled with the suspension of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams in 2012, FAMU Athletics has reduced its sports lineup to 14 teams – the NCAA minimum to retain Division I status.

The FAMU men’s tennis team had a string of high-profile accomplishments that garnered national attention during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Coach Carl B. Goodman won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s Coach of the Year title in 2012 and Salif Kante picked up the Player of the Year honor that same season.

The next year, Kante received the MEAC Player of the Year award again and led his team to a second place finish in the conference tournament.  

But Rattler men’s tennis struggled through a rebuilding season in 2014. It finished 10-14, overall, losing to defending MEAC champion South Carolina State in the conference semifinals.

REVISED FAMU SPORTS OFFERINGS

Men’s Sports (6)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Indoor Track

Outdoor Track

Women’s Sports (8)

Basketball

Bowling

Cross Country

Softball

Tennis

Indoor Track

Outdoor Track

Volleyball