Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), a Maricopa Community College, will launch its first athletic programs in the fall. Men’s and women’s golf and cross country will be the first two athletic programs available at the college since its opening in 1992.
“The demographics of our students have changed in the last 10 years, and our current students were interested in having athletic programs available at EMCC,” said Dr. Debbie Kushibab, vice president, student affairs. After a series of student forums where the desire for athletic programs was expressed by the student population, college officials began the approval process with the District.
As one of the Maricopa Community College District’s smallest colleges, Estrella Mountain Community College doesn’t currently have the facilities to support large-scale athletics, but will begin offering men’s and women’s golf and cross country in the fall, in partnership with local golf courses and communities. The teams will compete in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC).
Carl Tichenor will coach the men’s and women’s cross country team. Tichenor has more than 10 years of experience and boasts several national cross country championships himself.
Jeff Eccles will be Estrella Mountain’s men’s golf coach. Eccles has been the varsity boy’s golf coach at Westview High School for the last 14 years, guiding the team to four region titles, seven top 10 state finishes and one top five finish. Eccles has coached numerous national, state, region, and district champions in four major disciplines during his 29 years of teaching and mentoring athletes in the state of Arizona.
Joe Romaine comes to Estrella Mountain as its first women’s golf coach after working the two previous golf seasons at Westview High School, helping the team to the 2008 Desert West Region Championship. Romaine has coached and mentored golfers that have gone on to receive regional golfer of the year accolades as well as collegiate playing careers.
Students interested in participating in the college’s inaugural athletic teams must be full-time students at Estrella Mountain Community College and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher. For additional information, please contact Herschel Jackson, athletics director, at 623-935-8505.