Left to right: Ron Marston, GRC Professor; Kayla Pressburger, Logo Designer; Lex Coulter, SGA Representative; and Tina Ruff, Director of Athletics, Health & Wellness.
Exciting things are happening at Truckee Meadows Community College, and one of those is the introduction of a new Athletics, Health & Wellness program in Fall 2019!
The athletics program will ring in the start of TMCC women’s and men’s soccer teams, that are expected to compete in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, a six-school league that sponsors nine sports, in the Fall 2019 Semester.
A new athletics facility is expected to break ground later this year.
TMCC's first step in bringing in this new athletic program was hiring a director to lead the new program. TMCC’s newest addition, Dr. Tina Ruff, started this month as the Director of Athletics, Health & Wellness, and she has some big plans to launch athletics at TMCC.
“I am elated to be in this position. I've seen the sense of community that TMCC has and I’ve had a chance to meet all the forces behind making this new program come to life,” Ruff said. “I think we have a really great foundation to build something that is going to be successful and wonderful for the students.”
Ruff comes to TMCC from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she worked in athletics for over 16 years. A Northern Nevada native, Ruff got her own start in athletics as a collegiate academic All-American softball player at Arizona State University. After receiving her master’s degree at ASU, she returned to Reno where she earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2016. Ruff is passionate about building engagement at TMCC and creating student success initiatives through the new athletics program.
Accompanying the new athletics program is a new logo, created by a TMCC Graphic Communications student. The student, Kayla Pressburger, was recognized in class this week for her design. The new logo is an homage to TMCC's mascot, Wizard, and will be used for all media and merchandise for TMCC athletics.
The College is breaking ground for a new athletics facility where the teams can practice and hold games. The facility, which is expected to open in Fall 2019, will include a 20,000 square foot fitness center and full-length soccer field that also contains a track. The project is funded partly by a $5-per credit increase in student fees, which the students of TMCC voted for in student government elections.
Student support of the new athletics program will be crucial in seeing the program succeed.
“Students were vocal about the direction they wanted the College to go in and TMCC is delivering,” Ruff said. “This athletics program creates a huge opportunity for the sports community in Northern Nevada, and I hope that it continues to build campus engagement and excitement from current and prospective students.”
Ruff is currently working with her team on a five-year strategic plan that will align the mission and goals of TMCC as a whole with the new athletics program. Her first action item is to find coaches for both soccer teams, and get them started on recruitment efforts in the Spring. Ruff hopes to see growth within TMCC athletics as the five-year plan unfolds.
For more information about TMCC Athletics, Health & Wellness, call 775-673-7135 or email tmcclizards@tmcc.edu.