Jacksonville ending its program after 21 seasons
COLLEGE FOOTBALL We respect them immensely. Reinvesting these resources into our other Division I programs better positions us to enhance the experience for all 450 student-athletes.”
The school is shutting down the program after conducting a yearlong, data-driven analysis.
“As a university, we are investing and innovating to match our offerings to the 21st-century marketplace and to support the diverse demands and interests of our students,” Jacksonville president Tim Cost said in a news release.
“This investment profile requires careful analysis, realistic planning and — occasionally — difficult decisions to help drive us forward to excellence.
“When you consider all that we commit to coaching, recruiting, advising, facilities, conditioning, nutrition and academic counseling, it’s clear the resources required to support our football program outweigh the benefits to the overall athletics department and the university.”
Ricker-Gilbert reiterated if football players choose to remain at the school, they will receive full-tuition scholarships.
Jacksonville was a non-scholarship football program that was a member of the Pioneer League since its inception in 1998.
The Dolphins amassed a record of 115-106 (.520) during the past 21 seasons highlighted by a pair of conference championships in 2008 and 2010.
This season, Jacksonville was a disappointing 3-9 overall, finishing next-to-last in the conference standings.
Jacksonville University has an enrollment of 3,200 undergraduates and another 1,000 graduate students.