Siena University to Launch Women’s Acrobatics and Tumbling as its 22nd NCAA Division I Sport for 2027‑28

Siena University athletic director John D’Argenio is leading the search for a coach for a new sport at his school.

Siena will add women’s acrobatics and tumbling as its 22nd NCAA Division I sport, beginning with the 2027‑28 academic year.

D’Argenio said Tuesday that he has already received applications from coaching candidates, one day after Siena made the announcement.

“We have a few in, so we’ll start ASAP, trying to identify some candidates and interview people,” D’Argenio said. “Ideally, we’d love to have somebody in the next couple of months, so they can start recruiting for next year.”

Siena becomes the 54th collegiate institution to sponsor acrobatics and tumbling as a varsity sport. Athletes perform synchronized skills in events such as acrobatics, pyramid, toss, tumbling and team routines judged in competition.

Competing in the spring, Siena’s acrobatics and tumbling team will host its home contests at the UHY Center, the same venue used for women’s basketball and volleyball. The Saints will face six to twelve opponents in meets of two or three teams.

Acrobatic and tumbling programs typically field 35 to 45 student‑athletes. Siena, like many schools, is dealing with enrollment declines—its student body fell more than 9% last year.

“I think it’s very important … to help contribute to the overall enrollment,” D’Argenio said. “I think we do a reasonably good job now, but if we can find ways to add incremental students and give them a good athletic experience, I think that’s really important.”

The NCAA will hold its first national championships for acrobatics and tumbling from April 22‑25, 2027.

“Our focus is on strategic growth that delivers real value for students,” said Siena president Chuck Seifert in a news release. “Acrobatics & tumbling expands opportunity, enhances the student experience, and positions Siena to compete nationally as the sport enters NCAA championship status.”

It is the first sport Siena has added since men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track in 2015‑16.

D’Argenio indicated that Siena will offer partial athletic scholarships for acrobatics and tumbling, with the award amounts to be determined by benchmarking against other institutions.

Siena becomes the sixth Metro Conference school to launch the sport, joining Canisius, Iona, Manhattan, Quinnipiac, and Sacred Heart.

“Along with the enrollment piece, what we’ve seen is it’s become more and more popular across the country,” D’Argenio said. “It’s an emerging sport for women in the NCAA. … The NCAA will host a championship, and from an athletics standpoint, that was attractive. And then I also think from a recruitment standpoint, not just more students, but they come from different parts of the country or the region that we might normally recruit students from.”

While Siena will need to purchase mats and other equipment, D’Argenio said, acrobatics and tumbling does not require a dedicated facility or retrofitting of the UHY Center. The school can also use other parts of the Marcelle Athletic Complex for practice sessions.

D’Argenio said he has spoken with officials from other schools, including Canisius and Iona. The Golden Griffins posted a 4‑3 record in their inaugural season last year, and Iona, which added the sport in 2024, finished 3‑4.

The National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) currently governs the sport and draws its athletes from gymnastics, cheerleading, diving, dance, and other strength‑based disciplines, according to Siena.

D’Argenio said he will hire a full‑time head coach and a part‑time assistant.

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