Johnson & Wales shutters campus; athletes in limbo
Brandon Coder realized his dream to play college soccer at Johnson & Wales University in east Denver, only 40 miles from where he grew up.
Fast-forward about two years later, and Coder is stuck in a nightmare.
“Something so precious to you can be taken away so fast,” he said. “You don’t know what to do about it or how to react.”
The coronavirus pandemic’s profound impact on college athletics forced dozens of schools –such as Akron, Bowling Green, East Carolina and Stanford — to terminate individual sports. JWU got it worse.
On June 26, the DivisionIII school announced the closure of its Denver campus and, effective immediately, a permanent end to its 15 intercollegiate varsity athletic programs. A JWU news release said that “safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with concerns over being able to field complete rosters” led to its decision.
“It was a low blow for us,” said Coder, a Silver Creek High School graduate. “Our coach didn’t know, nobody knew from our school, so no one gave us a heads up. … I was expecting to go back for two years and still play. We were all excited and had been training hard this summer. We’ve all still been communicating well about how we wanted the season to go.”
The unexpected closure has left hundreds in limbo between current JWU student-athletes and incoming freshmen committed to play next season, with the 2020-21 academic year fast approaching. While D-III schools do not provide athletic scholarships, JWU provided an affordable college option for rosters filled by mostly Colorado high school players intent on continuing their athletic careers.
Two Rangeview boys basketball seniors — Isaiah Sweetwine and Isaiah Jamison — had signed to play at JWU next season before the program shuttered with little advance notice.
“It’s disappointing because JWU is playing in front of your hometown and family,” Sweetwine said.
“It took me a while to process it, but I was shocked,” Jamison added.
JWU provided all of its student-athletes with a blanket release for permission to speak with any school. Sweetwine, a shooting guard on Rangeview’s 2019 Class 5A title team, called it a “blessing in disguise” after being contacted by more than 20 college programs. However, with many schools starting classes next week, it’s a race to find the right fit.
“The timing is the toughest part,” Rangeview basketball coach Shawn Palmer said. “I’ve reached out to all the junior colleges in the state and some of the schools that had previously been recruiting these boys to see their level of interest. From a basketball perspective, a lot of rosters are set for next year.”
JWU is not alone cutting programs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Two Wyoming junior colleges — Sheridan and Gillette — eliminated their entire athletics programs in June. More small schools are likely to follow.
“Not all of those kids are going to be able to find new places,” Palmer said. “Their athletic careers are going to be done and it’s really not their fault.”
Coder spent the past two seasons in goal for JWU. Despite losing his soccer team, he’d like to stick with the school. JWU has four campuses nationwide — including Providence, Rhode Island — where Coder plans to enroll and join their soccer program.
It’s far from ideal but he’s thankful for the opportunity to play.
“I decided to stay with the school because I love the program that I’m in and everything transfers,” Coder said. “But it’s a far move for me.”