Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University announced today the addition of men’s and women’s swimming and diving to its NCAA Division I athletics program, allowing student-athletes to pursue their academic and athletic goals while expanding the Pride’s sports offerings to 23 programs.
A national search for the coaching staff and recruitment of student-athletes will start immediately. The teams will begin intercollegiate competition during the 2027-2028 academic year.
“The addition of men’s and women’s swimming and diving strengthens our Division I athletics program and creates new opportunities for talented student-athletes to compete at the highest level,” said Hofstra University President Susan Poser. “They will join 375 Hofstra athletes who are pursuing their education at Hofstra, where opportunities abound in business, communication, engineering, nursing, healthcare, and the liberal arts. We look forward to welcoming the coaches and student-athletes who will establish swimming and diving at Hofstra as a Division I competitive program and contribute to the academic and athletic life of the University.”
The last time new intercollegiate sports offerings were announced at Hofstra was in 2019, with the introduction of men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track.
“Any time we see a university make the decision to add swimming and diving, it’s a tremendous win for our sport,” said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). “We are thrilled to see Hofstra University invest in the future of collegiate swimming and diving and create new opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the Division I level. At a time when so much of the conversation surrounding college athletics is focused on challenges and uncertainty, this is an exciting reminder that our sport has room to grow. We look forward to welcoming Hofstra into the collegiate swimming and diving community and supporting the program as it gets started.”
“This is an exciting step forward for Hofstra Athletics and for the University as we continue to create new opportunities for student-athletes to compete, grow, and succeed at the highest level,” said Hofstra University Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. “The addition of men’s and women’s swimming and diving allows us to welcome even more talented student-athletes to Hofstra, where they can pursue an outstanding education while competing in NCAA Division I athletics. We look forward to building these programs and welcoming student-athletes and their new coaches to the Hofstra family.”
The teams will train and compete at the Hofstra University Swim Center, which features an Olympic-size pool and four diving boards.
Both programs will compete in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Hofstra’s addition brings the CAA’s sponsorship of the sports to six men’s programs and nine women’s programs.
There are 137 men’s swimming and diving programs that compete at the NCAA Division I level, including 50 in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. On the women’s side, 201 programs compete at the Division I level, including 56 in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
About the CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) — the first collegiate coaches association — is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and leading the advancement of the sport at the collegiate level. With a mission to protect, preserve and expand college swimming and diving opportunities, the CSCAA provides valuable resources, educational opportunities and leadership development to its members, fostering a thriving and competitive collegiate swimming and diving community.
