(This story was originally published on pacific.edu)
University of the Pacific is adding stunt as a varsity sport, making it the university's 21st NCAA Division I program.
"We are thrilled to create more opportunities for student-athletes to excel in ways that few other schools are doing," said Pacific President Christopher Callahan. "Athletics Director Adam Tschuor is at the forefront of identifying creative new ways to grow, that not only benefits athletics but also elevates the entire university community."
The rapidly growing sport of stunt is a head-to-head, four-quarter sport in which two teams perform pyramids and tosses, jumps and tumbling, and team routines. Judges score the competition based on execution, technique and synchronization.
"The addition of stunt places Pacific at the cutting edge of one of the fastest-growing women's sports in the country," Tschuor said. "The program not only expands competitive opportunities for women but also aligns perfectly with our department's commitment to innovation, equity and community engagement. Stunt brings an exciting, high-energy sport to our campus, and we are proud to invest in a program that reflects the strength and ambition of Pacific Athletics."
Stunt was developed by USA Cheer as a distinct competitive sport that emphasizes athleticism, technique and head-to-head competition.
"We applaud University of the Pacific for investing in women's athletics with the addition of stunt at the Division I level," said Executive Director of USA Cheer Lauri Harris. "As the sport advances toward NCAA Championship status and continues its nationwide growth, Pacific's decision reinforces the importance of creating competitive, meaningful pathways for female athletes. We are excited to welcome Pacific into this transformative moment for stunt."
Amy Haney, director of College and High School stunt at USA Cheer, said stunt will connect Pacific with "a strong pipeline of student-athletes while strengthening campus spirit and community engagement. This addition reflects the university's commitment to providing impactful, competitive opportunities for female student-athletes, and we are proud to welcome Pacific to the stunt community."
The program will begin in the 2026-27 academic year and will begin to compete in spring 2027. More than 70 NCAA institutions currently offer stunt programs.
Pacific also recently announced the reinstatement of men's volleyball after a 13-year hiatus. Tschuor said the momentum behind both sports reflects strong community support, a growing national landscape and the university's commitment to expansion during a period when Division I programs are being cut nationwide.
"The return of men's volleyball and the launch of stunt reflect Pacific's continued belief in expanding opportunities for student-athletes, not reducing them," Tschuor said. "At a time when many institutions are contracting, Pacific is choosing to invest, grow and build programs that match the energy and passion of our community. These additions strengthen our department, broaden our reach nationally and create pathways for students to compete at the highest level."
The new programs follow Pacific's recent additions of men's cross-country, and men's track and field as well as the addition of diving to both women's and men's swimming programs. With the addition of stunt, Pacific will now offer 21 Division I athletics programs.
The Emerging Sports for Women program was established in 1994 based on a recommendation from the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force. Since then, six sports have become championship sports (beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling and wrestling), with stunt and acrobatics and tumbling expected to be approved as NCAA championships at the 2026 NCAA Convention. Sponsorship and participation in emerging sports increased by more than 20% in 2024-25; across three divisions, 6,992 athletes participated in emerging sports in 2024-25.
