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University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren today announced at the May Regents meeting that with the assistance of Oklahoma City civic leaders Aubrey K. McClendon and Clayton I. Bennett, OU will add women’s rowing to its intercollegiate athletics program. The announcement of the addition of the new sport was made today at the OU Board of Regents’ meeting.

McClendon and Bennett have worked with the Riverfront Redevelopment Authority and with the OU Athletics Department on the addition of the sport. They have both also been involved in private fund raising for a new boathouse to be constructed on the banks of the Oklahoma River for the sport. McClendon has made a lead gift of $1 million toward the project, and another $1 million will come from a group of private donors led by Bennett. It will be matched by $2 million in Athletics Department bonds to complete the $4 million facility.

“The University of Oklahoma is extremely excited to add this new sport to its athletics program,” said OU President David L. Boren. “We are grateful to Aubrey and Clay for their leadership in this effort.

“The University also is excited that the Sooner flag will be flying prominently along the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City, which over the next few years will become one of the most dynamic places in the entire state.”

“Clay and I are very pleased to help encourage further boathouse development along the Oklahoma River. Women’s rowing is becoming an important intercollegiate sport throughout the country, and now our city will be part of that experience,” said McClendon. “The OU boathouse will be designed by Rand Elliott along a new Boathouse Row that is developing just east of the Chesapeake Boathouse. OU’s commitment to a first-class new boathouse will help achieve our dream of developing Oklahoma City into the premier rowing venue in the United States. In doing so, Oklahoma City will be able to attract the most competitive rowing teams and spectators to participate in outstanding events, making Oklahoma City a true destination for worldwide visitors.”

OU’s commitment to adding women’s rowing to its intercollegiate athletic program represents a major boost to this growing sport. The addition of this sport is good news for women student-athletes, OU and, importantly, the advancement of quality development along the Oklahoma River,” commented Clayton I. Bennett, Chairman of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation.

“Bringing more college athletic events to Oklahoma City is a specific goal of ours, so obviously this is a giant step forward,” said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. “The Oklahoma River is fulfilling every dream we’ve had. Our thanks to Joe Castiglione and the University of Oklahoma.”

“We are excited to welcome the University of Oklahoma as our neighbor on Oklahoma City’s emerging boathouse row and as a partner in our efforts to develop the Oklahoma River into one of the world’s premier urban aquatic venues,” said Mike Knopp, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation.

“Aubrey McClendon and Clay Bennett have helped pave the way for a new chapter in our program,” said OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. “I want to personally express my appreciation as well for Aubrey McClendon’s gift to the project. Not only does this open more opportunities for student-athletes, but it creates another wonderful presence for us in Oklahoma City.”

The addition of women’s rowing will increase Oklahoma’s Athletics Department programs to a total of 21 sports.

“The addition of this sport further demonstrates our very deep commitment to gender equity in the sports opportunities we offer,” Castiglione said.

The boat house, which will be located on the north side of the river, directly east of the Chesapeake boat house, will serve as the competitive hub for the team.

“The presence of the University of Oklahoma on the Oklahoma River could not come at a more ideal time,” said Pat Downes, Director of Development for the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority. “In the state’s centennial year and with the Olympics fast approaching, the presence of women’s rowing opens the door to a wide variety of very exciting possibilities. OU clearly has the largest concentration of its graduates and alums in central Oklahoma, so the opportunity for the Sooner faithful to gather on the Oklahoma River adds a dimension to Regatta Park that we have not yet seen. The opportunity for intra-regional competition is exciting and with OU’s help, I could see the possibility of bidding to host post-season championships.

“The excellent thing about this development is that the river is so close to very important venues in Oklahoma City, including the State Capitol, the OU Health Sciences Center, downtown and Bricktown. We have possibilities that we’ve only begun to explore at this stage.”

The athletics department plans to initiate the new program with the recruitment of a coach and staff during the 2007/08 academic year to begin the process of establishing the program and building a roster. Scholarships will then be phased in over a two- to three-year period.

Completion of the boathouse is expected by fall of 2009.

This is the first sports addition since 1996, when women’s soccer joined the program.