WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Shippensburg University Athletic Director Jeff Michaels told Waynesboro Rotarians last week about the processes involved in running an NCAA Division II college sports program.
Ship, as the school is known, participates in the 18-member Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, which includes 13 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE, universities as well as Gannon, Seton Hill, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Shepherd and incoming member Lackawanna.
Michaels contrasted his operation, which has a little more than 30 full-time employees, with the more than 300 employees at a huge operation like Penn State. Ship’s ticket sales of about $40,000 for football and basketball are dwarfed by the millions Penn State brings in.
However, spectators can come at bargain prices. Athletic events are available for low admission prices or free. Parking is also free.
Shippensburg sponsors 20 sports and can provide financial aid for athletes, though not to the extent one would find in Division I schools. And smaller schools sometimes lose star players to larger programs, a situation that probably won’t end any time soon.
