Gardner-Webb University Adds Two Sports, Realigns Athletics Portfolio for Long-Term Success

Strategic Athletics Restructuring Expands Opportunities and Positions Gardner-Webb for Division I Growth

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Gardner-Webb University announced a strategic restructuring of its athletics sponsorship offerings designed to strengthen Gardner-Webb’s position in the evolving Division I landscape by aligning resources with long-term priorities and expanding opportunities for student-athletes.

The restructuring will add women’s flag football and women’s acrobatics and tumbling while discontinuing the men’s and women’s tennis programs. Both tennis programs will conclude competition following the 2026 season.

“As the NCAA landscape continues to evolve, it was critical for us to evaluate future opportunities while also making thoughtful, strategic resource allocation decisions,” said Brendan Fahey, vice president for athletics and athletic director. “This restructuring will enable us to provide additional opportunities for student-athletes and introduce two sports that are growing rapidly nationwide. We are excited to grow our department with the addition of two quickly evolving NCAA sports and expand each program’s footprint within the region.”

The addition of women’s flag football and women’s acrobatics and tumbling will create approximately 80 new participation opportunities for student-athletes, supporting continued growth and competitive balance within the athletics program.

Women’s acrobatics and tumbling was added as an NCAA championship sport following a vote by NCAA members from all three divisions at the 2026 NCAA Convention. The NCAA’s first acrobatics and tumbling championship is projected to take place in spring 2027.

Women’s flag football continues to gain national momentum and was added to the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program, making the sport eligible to pursue championship status through the emerging sports pathway. Gardner-Webb will join conference peers in sponsoring the sport, including Charleston Southern University and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, both of which have announced women’s flag football programs beginning competition in the 2027–28 academic year.

The decision followed a comprehensive review of Gardner-Webb’s entire athletics portfolio that examined participation trends, competitive sustainability, facilities needs and long-term resource alignment across all sports. University and athletics leadership conducted the review with the support of the Gardner-Webb Board of Trustees. Student-athletes and coaches in the affected programs were informed of the decision prior to the public announcement.

“The decision to discontinue our tennis programs was an extremely difficult one,” Fahey said. “Gardner-Webb University is deeply grateful for the contributions of our coaches, student-athletes and alumni and for the way they have represented our athletics department throughout the years. We will work with each student and provide support for their future academic and athletic endeavors.”

All student-athlete scholarships will be honored for those who choose to remain enrolled at Gardner-Webb and complete their degrees. Support will also be provided to student-athletes who choose to transfer in order to continue competing. In addition to receiving assistance from their coaching staffs during this transition, all tennis student-athletes will have access to student counseling services and university resources.

Women’s tennis head coach Jim Corn, who is in his 20th season leading the program during the 2025–26 academic year, guided one of the university’s most consistently high-achieving programs both academically and competitively. Under his leadership, the women’s tennis team earned Division I ITA All-Academic honors in 18 of the past 19 seasons and recorded multiple top-three conference finishes, including a runner-up finish at the Big South Conference Championship in spring 2025.

Men’s tennis head coach Mike Griffith, a four-time Big South Coach of the Year, previously announced his intention to retire following the conclusion of the 2026 spring campaign, closing a stellar 24-year head coaching career at Gardner-Webb. Griffith led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their first-ever Big South Tournament Championship in 2025, multiple regular-season conference titles and consecutive 20-win seasons, while building a nationally ranked program and a strong record of academic excellence.

Additional details regarding timelines, staffing and competition for women’s flag football and women’s acrobatics and tumbling will be announced as the programs move forward.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.