Physical Education and Athletics Department

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Physical Education and Athletics have been key components of the Goucher experience since the founding of the college. Together they complement Goucher’s commitment to developing a student’s intellectual growth and leadership skills. Students learn to test physical limits, develop responsibility, work together as a group, and understand the basis for establishing a balanced lifestyle.

The department encourages the development of vitality and health through the activity courses, where students take one course from a variety of choices offered through physical education. Athletics plays an important role in the student life of the campus. As competitive participants, students learn to draw strength and courage from within. The testing of mental and physical limits is integral to building positive self esteem and important in the development of leadership skills. In addition to the Welsh Gymnasium and von Borries Swimming Pool, the Virginia and Alonzo Decker Jr. Sports and Recreation Center complex includes a cardio fitness center; a strength and conditioning center, dance studios, athletic training room, locker rooms, a racquetball and a squash court, and a multipurpose room. Outdoor facilities include three natural grass practice fields; eight tennis courts; an indoor and outdoor riding ring; stables; a synthetic turf field with lights, an eight-lane synthetic surface track and stadium field, a nine-hole disc golf course; and five miles of wooded riding, jogging, and hiking trails that are used by the cross country team and many students on campus.

Department Staff

Director of Physical Education and Athletics

Geoff Miller

Coaches and Instructors

Sally Baum (senior woman’s administrator and women’s tennis coach); Leonard Trevino (associate athletics director and men’s basketball coach); Thomas Till (aquatics director, assistant athletic director and swimming coach); Jean Knecht (athletics trainer); Didi Cotton (women’s basketball coach); Patte Zumbrun (equestrian director and riding coach); Katie Trainor (women’s lacrosse coach), Kyle Hannan (men’s lacrosse coach),Megan Williams (field hockey coach); John Caslin (cross country and track and field coach); Bryan Laut (men’s soccer coach and coordinator of academic support services); Tati Korba (women’s soccer coach); Michael Vann (men’s tennis coach); Michael Bossom (women’s volleyball coach); Nilajah Brown, Farrell Sullivan, and Terry Feelemeyer (physical education instructors)

Recreational Sports Program

The hallmark of recreational sports at Goucher is participation. The program provides facilities, equipment, and activities to meet the diverse needs and interests of the entire college community. Recreational sports includes three facets in programming: intramurals, sports clubs, and recreational events. Within these areas are opportunities for competition in team, dual, and individual sports for men and women; practice, instruction, and competition in common-interest group activity; and nontraditional, self-paced activities. The program is flexible and based upon the interests of the college community and the availability of facilities.

Intramural Sports

Most recent activities include racquetball, basketball, softball, flag football, tennis, floor hockey, ultimate Frisbee, indoor soccer, and volleyball.

Sport Clubs

Sport clubs are recognized student organizations formed by individuals with a common interest. Sport clubs promote student participation in a wide variety of physical and athletic activities, provide greater opportunity for student competition at various levels of play, contribute to the development of student leadership, and provide a bond within individual clubs. Most of all, sport clubs are a great place to learn a sport, meet people, and have fun. The key to the success of this program and each club is student leadership and participation. Sport clubs are administered through the Office of Student Engagement and the Sports Club Umbrella. Each club is formed, developed, governed, and administered by the club’s student members. Clubs that have sustained interest in recent years include Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, jujitsu, hip-hop, and dance.

Varsity Sports Program

The intercollegiate athletics program offers 10 varsity sports for women and eight varsity sports for men, as well as an equestrian intercollegiate athletic program for men and women. Goucher is a member of the Landmark Athletic Conference and has NCAA Division III affiliation. Students may fulfill the activity course of the physical education requirement by successfully completing one season on an intercollegiate team.

Fall Sports

Men’s and women’s cross country, riding, soccer, and tennis, and women’s field hockey and volleyball

Winter Sports

Men’s and women’s basketball, riding, indoor track and field, swimming

Spring Sports

Men’s and women’s lacrosse, riding, tennis, outdoor track and field

Equestrian Program

The Equestrian Program is part of the comprehensive physical education program and offers small, personalized riding classes for riders at the novice through advanced levels. The program emphasizes a contemporary approach to hunt seat riding. Throughout the year, students participate in horse shows and riding clinics both on and off campus. Goucher is a member of Region I of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and intercollegiate competition is available to students on the varsity riding team. The Riding Club provides a variety of non-riding, horse-related activities and sponsors riding events on campus. Goucher’s riding facilities include college-owned horses, 21 box stalls, a 150’ by 180’ sand ring, an indoor riding ring, a hunt course area, and fields and trails with cross-country jumps. For information on boarding a private horse in the college stables, contact the director of the equestrian program.

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