Between their facilities, student-athletes and a sold-out men’s basketball season, the College of Charleston Department of Athletics has a lot going on. Check out their latest updates – and news you can use – below!
Basketball
The Cougars men’s basketball season sold out even before it began! For the first time in program history, all seats in TD Arena have been claimed for all the home games.
All, that is, but the ones reserved for faculty and staff. Athletics is still offering CofC employees a limited number of complimentary tickets to individual Cougars men’s basketball games. Each employee is limited to two complimentary tickets; additional tickets can be purchased at a discounted rate. Faculty/staff tickets are for seats in the upper-level end zone and cannot be resold on the secondary market. Online promo codes will be emailed to faculty and staff in advance of the games, with the first claim date on Oct. 30 for the home opener against Iona University on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.
Earlier that day, at 11 a.m., the women’s basketball team will kick off in TD Arena against Pfeiffer University – and faculty and staff have free admission to all women’s basketball home games this season! For a full schedule of women’s basketball games, visit the Athletics website.
Student-Athletes
Spring 2023 Academic Statisticss
With a record 3.383 average GPA for the spring 2023 semester (the seventh straight semester with a 3.2+ average GPA!), our student-athletes performing well both on the court and in the classroom. Here’s a breakdown of their shining academic statistics for the term:
- Record 65% of student-athletes earned a 3.2 or higher
- Record 74% of student-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher
- 37 student-athletes earned a 4.0
- Record GPA for student-athletes in three individual athletic programs
Developmental Programming Updates
The Athletics Department has kicked off its third cohort of Cougar Launch, a mentorship and leadership program for female student-athletes entering their junior year. It is a two-year commitment, with the students attending four workshops a semester centered around confidence and leadership. They are also paired with a mentor.
Cougars Speak Up, a monthly workshop centered around creating a safe space to talk about life balance as a student-athlete, kicked off in September. Topics discussed include performance anxiety and stress management, with a focus on enhancing mental wellness.
The department has also hosted workshops covering nutrition, how to brand yourself as a student-athlete and tips for juggling academics as a student-athlete.
Lastly, the department has finished up its Student-Athlete 101 series – an eight-week non-credit–bearing course for freshman student-athletes that provides them the opportunity to meet freshmen on other teams and discuss topics such as advising, Title IX, diversity and inclusion, student-athlete development, compliance, nutrition and mental health.
Facilities
Patriots Point Upgrades
In the fall of 2022, Founders Federal Credit Union donated a $2.1 million gift to assist in the construction of a baseball performance center at the College of Charleston baseball complex at Patriots Point. The gift is the largest in College of Charleston Athletics history. The new facility will include locker rooms, team rooms and video rooms with cutting-edge training technology, a hydrotherapy training area, outdoor patio and club areas for donors and new coaches’ offices.
Earlier this year, the College of Charleston Board of Trustees approved a proposal to install a new turf field, new stadium lights and a new video board to replace the existing one.
The College is in the midst of a $14 million goal for baseball capital improvements.
Tennis Facility
The tennis program received $1.5 million gift from Robb and Lydia Turner to fund the renovation and new construction of its current tennis facility at Patriots Point. The CofC Board of Trustees unanimously approved the construction project and renaming of the facility to the Turner Tennis Center. Interior improvements include new locker rooms, lounge space, coaches’ offices and sports medicine treatment room. A new covered pavilion with an outdoor kitchen, dining tables and a firepit highlight the exterior enhancements. The renovations also include resurfacing all nine courts, new LED court lights and a new scoreboard.
