News Release

"We are very excited about the plans to elevate women's lacrosse to Division I ," said Director of Athletics Tom Calder. "Johns Hopkins has a great history and tradition of success in men's lacrosse, and we feel that this is the next natural step. Our women's program has experienced tremendous success in Division III, and we are confident that Head Coach Janine Tucker is the person to take the program to the next level."

Tucker, who is currently in her third year at Johns Hopkins, will relinquish her duties as head field hockey coach to become the full-time head coach of the Division I lacrosse program. A 1989 Loyola graduate and a former All-America lacrosse player, she previously served as an assistant coach with the Greyhounds' Division I lacrosse program. In her first two seasons at Hopkins, Tucker guided the Blue Jays to back-to-back Centennial Conference Championships and appearances in the NCAA Division III Semifinals. Her 1996 team is currently 9-5 overall and 7-1 in the Centennial Conference.

The NCAA requires a two-year planning period before elevating a sport from Division III to Division I status. During that time, a program is required to operate in compliance with the more restrictive of Division III and Division I regulations. Johns Hopkins will begin the compliance period on June 1, 1996, and be eligible to compete at the Division I level in September of 1998. The team will begin playing a Division I schedule in the spring of 1999.

The decision to elevate women's lacrosse comes as a part of a continuing Department of Athletics effort to create an equitable distribution of opportunities, benefits, and resources between men and women. Other recent changes include the construction of a new wing of women's locker room facilities in 1994 and the addition of a women's soccer program in 1992.

Proposed Timeline for Elevation of Women's Lacrosse to Division I

• May 1, 1996: Announcement of intention to elevate women's lacrosse program to Division I status.
  
• June 1, 1996: Begin two-year compliance period with more restrictive NCAA rules.
  
• Summer 1996: Educate women's lacrosse coaches on NCAA Division I rules and regulations.
  
• July 1, 1997: Hire full-time assistant women's lacrosse coach (to serve as head coach in a second sport).
  
• June 1, 1998: File petition to NCAA for multidivision classification in a second sport.
  
• Sept. 1, 1998: Eligible to participate in Division I (if in compliance with all division membership bylaws for the two years prior to June 1, 1998).
  
• Spring 1999: Begin playing Division I schedule.
  
• 1999-2000: Incoming women's lacrosse players eligible to receive athletic scholarships.