RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls announced the addition of baseball and men's soccer, expanding its varsity intercollegiate program total to 20, made official by Athletics Director Crystal Lanning on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Baseball and men's soccer will be prepared to compete at the varsity level during the 2024-25 academic year.

UWRF baseball will be reinstated after a 21-year absence as the program was suspended in 2002 and will round out the WIAC standings as the eighth conference member to sponsor baseball.

The addition of men's soccer pushes UWRF's men's varsity sport total to nine, while UW-River Falls will become the fifth WIAC school to add men's soccer and the latest to add the program in recent years.

"I am excited to announce the reinstatement of baseball and the addition of men's soccer to our varsity sports programs," Crystal Lanning commented. "Baseball and men's soccer are natural next steps for Falcon Athletics and both programs will support the strategic enrollment goals of the university by attracting new, successful student-athletes to UWRF."

"Baseball has a long tradition at UWRF, and I am excited for the opportunity to bring Falcon baseball back to the River Falls community. Additionally, men's soccer has a strong base in the Twin Cities and Midwest region, and we are well positioned to build a highly competitive program."

A national search for head coaches for both programs will begin immediately, with the positions slated to be hired for the 2023-24 academic year to allow a full year to recruit and build competitive schedules.