The College of Idaho no longer will sponsor men’s tennis as a varsity sport – it will instead be offered as a club sport beginning this school year. Coach Cisco Limbago will, however, continue to instruct and support the men’s tennis team while maintaining his role as varsity women’s tennis coach.
Men’s tennis was reinstated as a varsity sport in 2009, but scheduling proved difficult because the Coyotes’ home league, the Cascade Collegiate Conference, does not sponsor varsity tennis. College of Idaho President Marv Henberg and Athletic Director Marty Holly both stressed that the move was not related to Title IX or the College’s recent decision to reinstate its football program. But without a conference, the sport was not a feasible option for the College going forward.
“Men’s tennis is not supported in our conference, so it only makes sense to reconstitute it as a club sport,” Henberg said. “There is nothing in this decision that expressed anything but the utmost appreciate for our student-athletes or for Coach Limbago and all he means to the College.”
Henberg and Holly noted that athletic scholarships of former varsity players will be honored. As a club sport, men’s tennis will be led and operated by the students, with funding coming from student government. Other club sports – most notably the men’s lacrosse team – have thrived at the C of I over the years.
“I enjoyed the happiest athletic experience of my life participating in club sports,” Henberg said. “And it is my hope that our men’s tennis players will have similar experiences here at the College.”
