EGCC considers adding athletics

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Eastern Gateway Community College already has a Gator mascot, and now its administrators are exploring the idea of creating sports teams.

President Jimmie Bruce told trustees at their regular meeting Friday that he’s considering starting an intercollegiate athletic program at the college.

Bruce said John Zizzo, a baseball trainer and consultant, contacted him last September about starting a baseball team at the school. Zizzo, who was Youngstown State University’s head baseball coach from 1991 to 1998, has offered to assist without pay.

“I’ve always been a big believer in doing things to engage students, engage the community and connect students and the community,” Bruce said.

Eastern Ohio is an area that’s enthusiastic about sports, he said.

“It’s a way to give young people an opportunity to come to the college and to be engaged,” the president said.

If officials decide to pursue it, EGCC would be part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The association includes 530 member colleges and 15 men’s and 13 women’s sports. If college officials decide to pursue creating an athletics program, EGCC also would join the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference, which includes eight community colleges in Ohio, including Cuyahoga County and Lakeland.

Bruce said to be on an NJCAA team, a student must be enrolled full time, maintain a 2.0 grade-point average and attend classes.

Zizzo said an EGCC baseball team would provide the opportunity for young people from all four counties – Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Jefferson – to play.

“What a void your school has filled in the community,” Zizzo told trustees. “I feel athletics can do nearly as much as you have done in the community.”

Trustees indicated they supported the idea but wanted more information. They took no action, and Bruce said he plans to research the concept before asking the board to vote.

Some trustees, though, questioned whether baseball was the best sport for starting an athletic program.

Trustee Chris Jaskiewicz pointed out that because of equipment and the number of coaches required, baseball is more expensive than basketball, for example.

Trustee Christine Dennison said the University of Akron eliminated its baseball team to cut costs, based at least partially on game attendance.

If the college moves forward with any men’s sport, under federal Title IX regulations, it would have to offer a women’s sport within a year.

In other business, trustees awarded Laura Meeks, the 16-year EGCC president who retired last July, as president emeritus of the school.