By: Mark Reinhiller
College of DuPage Director of Athletics and Recreation Ryan Kaiser recently announced that the Chaparrals will add women’s golf to their athletics program, beginning in the 2021-22 academic year.
The Chaparrals now offer 18 athletic programs and that number will extend to 19 when men’s volleyball begins in 2022-23.
“It is an exciting opportunity that will now exist for women golfers in DuPage County, who have the ability to attend and compete for COD,’’ Kaiser said. “It’s the right time to add this sport, that we believe will have the ability, in time, to compete at the national level.’’
The NJCAA recently split the women’s golf championship to provide both Division I and Division III national championships, allowing the Chaparrals to compete in next year’s D3 event.
“As we continue to focus our collective efforts on student success, I am thrilled that College of DuPage will launch women’s golf to further enhance the plethora of athletic offerings for our students,” said College of DuPage President Dr. Brian Caputo.
Men’s golf has won three NJCAA Division III national championships in its history (1996-98), and is coming off a fourth-place finish last month in Chautauqua, New York. Coached by COD Hall of Famer Jason Hyatt, the Chaparrals have dominated Region IV play, winning nine region titles during Hyatt’s 18 years at the helm, and 20 regional titles overall.
Kaiser said the addition of women’s golf complements COD’s storied athletic program.
“Adding women’s golf shows a continued sign of growth here at COD and promotes the value of athletics as it pertains to the development and well-being of our students,’’ he said.
The Chaparrals become the fourth Region IV school to compete in women’s golf, joining Bryant & Stratton (Wis.), Carl Sandburg and Oakton.
College of DuPage is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), NJCAA Region IV and North Central Community College Conference. The College's Athletics program has won 34 national championships in school history, and offers nine men's and nine women's sports teams each year, including outdoor track and field, indoor track and field, cross country, football, volleyball, golf, basketball, tennis, baseball, softball and soccer. All home games are played on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., and are free and open to the public.