By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Jacksonville Dolphins have dropped their football program. This was a program that had been in existence for 23 seasons.
The school said that this decision was made after “a data-driven evaluation of Division 1 intercollegiate athletics.” The school also said that they received “input from experienced, independent consultants.”
“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,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost in a statement. “This investment profile requires careful analysis, realistic planning and – occasionally – difficult decisions to help drive us forward to excellence.”
In the last two seasons under head coach Ian Shields, the team went 5-17. In its final season in 2019, the team went 3-9.
The Dolphins final win before the program was dropped came on Nov. 16 at Marist. Jacksonville won 52-45 over the Red Foxes in New York.
Their final win at home in Jacksonville, Florida game against the Ave Maria Gyrenes when the team won 42-28 on Sept. 28.
The school will continue to offer full scholarship to players, who were on the team. This will be in effect for every student-athlete, who was part of the team and remains with the school through graduation.
Plus, the school is also honoring the contracts of its coaching staff. The school will also help the coaches find employment elsewhere.
“This was a difficult decision,” Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said. “Our student-athletes and coaches in the football program are talented, tenacious, and hard-working. 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.”
