Savannah College of Art and Design Athletics

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah College of Art and Design is revamping the Bees’ athletics, recreation and intramural departments.

Beginning with the 2009-10 season, SCAD will begin offering six intercollegiate sports – men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis – at its Atlanta campus. In addition, SCAD-Savannah is placing a renewed emphasis on its intramurals, recreation and fitness departments.

“We are delighted to welcome intercollegiate sports at SCAD-Atlanta,” said Vice President for SCAD-Atlanta P.J. Johnson.  “Our students have shown great interest in adding sports in Atlanta, and this initiative is an important step in the maturing of our campus.  We are looking forward to expansion of our intramural programs as well."

The development and fine tuning of the athletics, fitness, recreation and intramurals programs is ongoing in Savannah as well. Just last year the college added women’s lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport and opened a new, state-of-the-art fitness center for all students. As part of the current changes, the college has made the decision to discontinue the men’s and women’s basketball, and cheerleading programs at the end of the 2008-09 season.

"We are excited about the addition of six sports at SCAD-Atlanta and the increased focus on fitness, intramurals and recreation at each of our campuses,” said Director of Athletics Quin Monahan. “While the decision to phase out men's and women's basketball as well as cheerleading was certainly a very difficult one, I remain excited about the future of SCAD athletics and look forward to a very strong year.”
 
"(Men’s basketball) Coach (Cazzie) Russell and (women’s basketball) Coach (Stephany) Raines have done an admirable job at leading our young student-artist-athletes,” added Monahan.  “Their concern for students goes beyond their ability to perform on the court, but more so to their success in life.  I'm proud to have had the opportunity to work with these two very fine and reputable coaches and wish them the greatest success and happiness in the future."

Coach Raines will assume the position of assistant athletics director once the basketball season ends in March.

The college plans to honor all scholarships for current players and to help any who might consider transferring to another institution.

SCAD-Savannah’s intramurals, recreation and fitness departments have seen increased participation and offerings increase each year. More than 1,650 individuals participated in one of the 16 intramural sports that were offered in 2007-08. SCAD offered an average of 15 different classes at its main fitness center, Club SCAD, each quarter last year. 

SCAD operates two fitness centers, including the Club SCAD facility.  The centers feature aerobics rooms, locker rooms, free weights and cardiovascular machines. Staff members teach various classes and provide consultation on health and fitness, including weight-training regimes and proper use of equipment. Classes include aerobics, body sculpting, dance aerobics, kickboxing, self-defense, cardio-boxing, pilates, Resist-a-Ball and yoga.

SCAD offers a full lineup of intramural sports, including basketball, flag football, volleyball, softball and dodgeball, as well as a variety of student-organized activities.

The department of student recreation offers social and fitness activities open to the student body such as canoeing, off-road biking, rock climbing, white-water rafting and skydiving.

The men’s basketball program started in 1991-92. Currently in their 18th season, the Bees have amassed a 218-230 overall record. SCAD earned three berths in the NCAA Division III Championship (1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2002-03). SCAD best-ever season came in 2002-03 when the Bees went a college-record 21-6 mark. During that season SCAD won a college-record 16 games in a row, was ranked No. 20 in the country and advanced to the second round of the national tournament.

The women’s basketball program started two years later in 1993-94. The Bees have a 213-172 overall record as they begin their 16th season. SCAD advanced to three NCAA Division III Championships in 1995-96, 1996-97 and 2001-02. The Bees also captured The Sun Conference championship in 2006-07. 

SCAD basketball players have gone on to do great things after they have left Savannah. Three former men’s players – Gerard Bowden, Keith Davis and Ryan Kaminski – are all currently playing overseas. Former women’s standout Becki Tower recently earned a position with Pixar Animation Studios, while Beth Racker designed garments worn in the Ebony Fashion Fair this year.