ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University athletic department is pleased to announce the addition of women's bowling to its slate of sport offerings beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The Regents have also tabbed Kyle Rognstad as the school's first ever head women's bowling coach. Rockford University will now sponsor 13 varsity sports (7 women's and 6 men's) with 12 of them competing in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference at the NCAA Division IIl level. 

"I am proud that Rockford University continues to add programs that align with the NCAA emerging sports program," RU Director of Athletics Jason Mulligan stated. "We have seen the growth of collegiate bowling, especially here in the Midwest and more specifically in the Rockford community, so the timing made sense for us to jump in and start competing." 

University President Patricia Lynott commented that the expanded sport offering provides another competition outlet for female student-athletes on campus. "With the introduction of women's bowling, Rockford University continues to provide athletic opportunities to female student-athletes in a growing sport," Lynott said.

Collegiate bowling is one of the longest seasons of competition currently sponsored by the NCAA. Schools are allowed a maximum of 32 competition dates each academic year, beginning on October 1 and concluding in March. The National Collegiate Bowling Championships are then held annually in April. Unlike many other sports the NCAA sponsors, the women's bowling championship is not separated into divisions (I, II and III), but instead, all NCAA schools compete against one another in the same division.

With the 2024-25 season fast approaching,  Mulligan is proud to announce the hiring of Kyle Rognstad as the University's head women's bowling coach. "I always get excited when our Regent family grows," Mulligan stated. "Coach Rognstad is a great fit for our University and the right person to begin building the program. He was a collegiate bowler himself and is connected locally to the Rockford bowling community. I look forward to watching this team grow."

Coach Rognstad joins the Regents after competing and coaching both at the high school and collegiate levels. Rognstad began his collegiate career at Rock Valley College, where he spent two seasons as a Golden Eagle. He then transferred to Western Illinois University to bowl his final two years. Rognstad got his coaching start at Belvidere High School, where he spent multiple years as an assistant coach for the Bucs. He then most recently spent one year as an assistant bowling coach at Western Illinois University. Rognstad currently holds a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Silver Coaching designation.

"I am honored to become the first women's bowling coach at Rockford University," Coach Rognstad remarked. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jason Mulligan and the entire Rockford University community for entrusting me with establishing and building the program. With Rockford's rich bowling history, I am excited for what the future may hold, and look forward to the opportunity to help each student-athlete grow on and off the approach."