The University of Oregon will reinstate baseball as one of its intercollegiate programs following a 26-year absence, according to an announcement Friday by the school’s Director of Athletics Pat Kilkenny.
Kilkenny said that his decision was based in part upon the financial future of the Ducks’ department of athletics as well as a growing interest in the sport on a national level and among University of Oregon constituents and alumni.
He added that an aggressive timetable for bringing back baseball on an intercollegiate basis would include the hiring of a national caliber coaching staff no later than this fall, with Oregon to resume competition during the 2008-09 season.
Oregon had remained as the only school in the Pacific-10 Conference without a baseball program since it was one of four sports eliminated following the 1980-81 season due to financial considerations. The other sports that were dropped at that time were men’s gymnastics as well as women’s golf and soccer.
University of Oregon news release
