The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Central State offers men and women students the opportunity to participate in eleven different sports under the sanctioning of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).Central State participates on the Division II level. Sports for women include volleyball, basketball, cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field, tennis and golf. Men's sports include basketball, cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field, tennis and golf with football starting in fall 2004. Other sports will be added as the student body increases and the financial support is available.

The Athletic history at Central State University is one full of tradition and success. National Championships have been attained in Men's Basketball, Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Football.

The athletic facilities at Central State University are among the best among the NCAA D-II programs of similar size. Beacom/Lewis Gym, home of the volleyball and basketball programs is recently renovated and seats over 2300 for home contests. Home basketball games are broadcast on WCSU 88.9 FM. The track team, which saw 5 alumni participate in the last Olympics, trains and runs home meets on the Josh Culbreath track in McPherson Stadium on Campus. This all weather track is one of the best in the Midwest . The golf team plays its home matches on Sebastian Hills Golf Course in nearby Xenia , OH .

Athletes at Central State are well recognized for the academic achievements. This past year a member of the women's basketball team was recognized as an Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar a national award given to athletes who also achieve academically. Many of our athletes in the past have also honored as NAIA Scholar-Athletes, with the move to NCAA they will be nominated for Verizon/CoSida Academic All-American status. . Additionally, all student-athletes who have a GPA of 3.0 or better each quarter are designated as Scholar-Marauders and receive recognition that increases with consecutive quarters with this distinction. For the academic year 20002-2003 a total of forty percent of our student athletes earned this distinction. At the beginning of the 1999-2000 academic year, President Garland approved the creation of the position of full time academic advisor for the Department of Athletics. The Academic Advisor works with all athletes to ensure their academic success and progress to their respective degree and monitors progress in classes throughout the year.

In order to be eligible to participate in the CSU athletics program entering freshman must meet register with the NCAA Initial Eligibilty Clearinghouse

Coaches: Listed below are the individual sport coaches with their phone numbers.

Director of Athletics:	Theresa A. Check '74, (937) 376-6202
Basketball, men:	Doug Lewis, Head Coach (937) 376-6288
	Donte Jackson, Assistant Coach (937) 376-6270
	John Krueger, Assistant. Coach (937) 376-6307
Basketball, women:	Patricia Tramble '86, Head Coach (937) 376-6322
	Sheba Harris '01, Asst. Coach (937) 376-6143
	Trona Logan, 91, Asst. Coach (937) 376-6143
Volleyball, women:	Chanteau White, (937) 376-6290
Track, men & women:	Jahan Culbreath '89, Head Coach (937) 376-6295
	Lynn Smith, Asst. Coach, (937) 376-6399
Golf, men & women:	Kenneth Marshall , Head Coach (937) 376-6681
Men and Women’s Tennis	John Krueger, Coach, (937) 376-6307
Academic Advisor:	Trona Logan, (937) 376-6143
Cheerleaders / Dance Troupe:	Sylvia Kelley, Director, (937) 376-6289
Sports Information & Athletic Training	Kenneth D. Marshall, ATC/L (937)376-6681

As an integral part of the University's total educational process, Central State University's Department of Athletics provides students an opportunity to enhance their education through participation in intercollegiate athletics. Offering programs in men and women's basketball, men and women's track and field and cross-country, men and women's golf along with women's volleyball, students have the opportunity to build leadership skill, self-esteem, confidence and essential competitive skills. The philosophy of Central State University's Department of Athletics is in harmony with the educational goals of the University and augment the University's initiatives in helping students acquire a broad understanding in the areas of humanities, the natural sciences and the social sciences. Students learn to discipline themselves, participate in teamwork activities and acquire the fundamental skills for pursuing his or her chosen profession.

Since 1960, the University, the Marauders and Lady Marauders have accumulated a number of national championships. They include the following:

1960	NCAA Small College Men's Cross Country
1961	NCAA Small College Men's Cross Country
1965	NAIA Men's Basketball
1968	NAIA Men's Basketball
1990	NAIA Division I Football
1991	NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field
1992	NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field
1992	NAIA Division I Football
1993	NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field
1993	NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field
1993	NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field
1993	NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field
1994	NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field
1994	NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field
1995	NAIA Division I Football
1996	NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field
1997	NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field

Department Goals

• To encourage physical fitness and development of physical skills and emotional control
• To foster good sportsmanship, school spirit and loyalty
• To provide student athletes an opportunity to participate at a high level of competition in intercollegiate activities with other colleges and universities.
• To provide a schedule of intercollegiate athletic competition in sports designed to meet student interests and institutional budget resources.
• To provide an opportunity for and to encourage the entire University community to witness and enjoy intercollegiate athletic competition.
• To recruit student athletes who matriculate within the University's general admission guidelines and who work toward graduation.
• To assist all students participating in intercollegiate athletics in completing their academic degree program and graduation from the University.
• To provide students academic support services, including tutoring and mentoring programs to ensure academic success and achievement
• To insure compliance with all NAIA rules and regulations and other governance entities.