KENT STATE UNIVERSITY DROPS HOCKEY
Ann Arbor...13 APRIL 1994
 
Central Collegiate Hockey Association [CCHA] Commissioner
Bill Beagan confirmed today that the Kent State University
Board of Trustees has supported KSU President Carol A
Cartwright's recommendation of April 5, to drop Kent State
University's hockey program effective immediately.
 
"It's common knowledge that KSU's athletic department has
been in a state of turmoil since athletic director Paul Amodio
was reassigned to a teaching position at KSU in January,"
commented Commissioner Beagan.
 
Last January, Kent State University's football team petitioned
President Cartwright to fire head football coach Pete Cordelli.
Cordelli was fired weeks later.
 
On February 7, 1994, KSU's hockey team, following the lead
of the football team, petitioned President Cartwright to fire coach
Bill Switaj.  KSU's hockey team, in its second season in the
CCHA, began the 1993-94 season with a respectable 10-8-1
[.553] record, while compiling a 1-18-1 record the remainder of
the year.
 
"It would be accurate to say that I was upset upon hearing about
KSU President Cartwright's recommendation to terminate the
hockey program from the media," commented Commissioner
Beagan.  Kent State University did not give the CCHA the
requisite 12 months notification of voluntary termination of
membership.  Commissioner Beagan's calls to President
Cartwright after her announcement to recommend the termination
of the hockey program were not returned.
 
Prior to Kent State University's application for membership in
the CCHA in 1990, Kent, through their then-President Michael
Schwartz gave their commitment to the CCHA to make several
improvements in KSU's existing hockey facility: a new entrance,
remodeled lobby and coaches office, improved locker rooms,
and expansion of the existing seating capacity.  None of these
improvements were ever implemented.  Commissioner Beagan
stated that KSU would not have been granted CCHA membership
"without a commitment" to implement these improvements.
 
Commissioner Beagan added, "it is never a good day when you
lose a hockey program.  In the circumstances given the current
leadership vacuum in the KSU athletic department, along with
their failure to implement promised improvements to their hockey
facility, it's arguably in the best interest of the CCHA that KSU has
taken this action."
 
The CCHA is in the process of modifying its 1994-95 league
schedule which will be announced in the very near future.
 
  ------ end of release ------
 
 
  John H
  U Mich
  So much for parting friends.