Cumberland University will add men’s and women’s outdoor track and field to its list of sport offerings beginning with the 2016-17 academic year, as announced this week by Director of Athletics Ron Pavan.

Cumberland has not had track and field as a varsity sport in more than 50 years but has offered cross country for most of the last 15 years.

“This is a great way for our University to continue to add quality students and to tap into the large pool of track athletes in the greater middle Tennessee area,” Pavan said.

The University plans to hire a head coach later this fall to begin work on campus aroundJanuary 1 and recruit next spring.