Athletics

Hanover College's intercollegiate athletic program is affiliated with the NCAA (Division III) and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, which includes outstanding schools from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Students can compete for the Panthers in 16 sports, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field as well as baseball, football, softball and volleyball. More than one-third of Hanover's student body participates in varsity athletics. Many students compete for more than one varsity sports team.

Jim Watts to guide women's soccer program
Hanover College President Sue DeWine has named Jim Watts head coach of the College's women's soccer program. Watts succeeds Yi Lin Liu, who guided the Panthers to a 73-97-9 mark from 1997-2007.

A former head coach of Hanover's men's program, Watts returns to the College after seven seasons as the head women's coach at Earlham College and one season as an assistant coach with the men's squad at Williams College (Mass.).

Watts guided Earlham to a school-record 12 wins in 2007. He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference coach of the year after leading the Quakers to a 12-5-1 record. His squads posted a 45-67-7 mark during his stint at Earlham, including a 28-21-4 record the past three seasons. During that span, his teams featured two NCAC newcomers of the year and three all-region athletes.

Watts served as Hanover's head men's soccer coach during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. He was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic coach of the year in 1999 after leading the Panthers to a then-school-record seven wins (7-11-1). Hanover was 10-25-2 during his two seasons with the men's program.

Watts left Hanover prior to the 2000 campaign to serve as an assistant with the men's team at Williams. The Ephs finished that season with a 15-1 record and were ranked No. 1 in the nation.

A 1997 graduate of Franklin College, Watts was a three-year letterwinner and two-time team captain for the Grizzlies. He received a master's degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy (Ala.) in 2003. He is a native of North Vernon, Ind.

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Hanover to install artificial field at football stadium
Hanover College's Board of Trustees has allocated $750,000 to fund the installation of a new playing field at L.S. Ayres Field, home to Hanover's football squad since the early 1970s.

Hanover will install an environmentally-friendly version of an artificial playing surface this summer. The new turf, playable in all weather conditions throughout the year, provides a nearly maintenance-free field. Combining synthetic fiber "grass" with a sub-base consisting of cushioning particles and sand, the surface will require no mowing, watering or other lawn-related attention.

"In a football conference as competitive as the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, it is imperative that we maintain the most modern playing facility possible," states head football coach Joe Austin. "This will allow us to compete in recruiting for the caliber of student-athlete that will return Hanover to prominence on the field."

The month-long project is slated to be completed prior to the start of the 2008 gridiron season.

Ayres Field, which seats 4,000 spectators, has featured a natural grass playing surface since its construction in 1973. The Panthers have posted a 126-43-1 record in 35 seasons at the stadium.

Installation of the football field is the first phase in Hanover's new outdoor athletic facilities and renovation program. The undertaking, slated to cost $3 million to $4 million, will upgrade the College's facilities for baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and golf.

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