Marshall University Athletics
Excitement Building For Marshall Athletics’ Launch Of STUNT
4/23/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
STUNT will be 19th NCAA varsity sport at Marshall University; set to compete in 2027-28
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Athletics is excited to welcome STUNT as the university's 19th NCAA varsity sport with the sport's first competitive season beginning in Spring 2028.
"Adding STUNT is an exciting step forward for Marshall University and a meaningful investment in new opportunities for female student-athletes," said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. "This decision reflects our commitment to building a strong future for Marshall Athletics while creating new pathways for students to compete, lead and be part of something bigger than themselves."
Gerald J. Harrison, Vice President and Director of Athletics, announced the future addition of STUNT as a varsity sport in Feb. 2026, making Marshall the first Sun Belt Conference institution to add the sport to its varsity catalog.
The addition of Marshall University to the STUNT footprint is one that brings a nationally recognizable brand to the sport that has rapidly ascended within the NCAA ranks, moving from an NCAA 'Emerging Sport for Women' in 2023 to NCAA Championship status, as announced at the 2026 NCAA Convention.
"STUNT has quickly emerged as one of the nation's fastest growing sports and we are pleased to add a varsity program that maximizes our opportunities for female sports while providing a sport with a clear pathway to an NCAA championship," Harrison said. "This addition to our athletics landscape will not only be a great addition for Marshall Athletics, but also a key recruiting tool for our university. It's one more reason that it's a great day to run with the Herd!"
STUNT will become the 94th NCAA Championship when the first official NCAA Championship in the sport is held in Spring 2027.
"We're thrilled to have Marshall University join the growing community of NCAA Varsity Division I STUNT programs," said Amy Haney, Director of College and High School STUNT for USA Cheer. "Marshall's dedication to both academic and athletic excellence makes them a perfect fit for the continued expansion of STUNT at the highest collegiate level. We're excited to see their program bring a highly competitive standard and level of excellence to the STUNT community while expanding meaningful opportunities for female athletes and helping them grow as leaders on campus and in the community."
Over the last two months, Marshall Athletics has already started the process of ensuring the program gets off to a flying start once competition begins in the 2027-28 academic year.
This weekend, members of Marshall's administration are headed to the 2026 College STUNT Nationals, hosted by Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. That event runs from April 23-26, bringing all three NCAA competitive divisions together in one location for a great weekend of competition.
The event features the top STUNT programs in the country, including Cal Baptist, Kentucky and Cal Poly.
Here are other key upcoming dates in the STUNT timeline that will help grow Marshall's 19th varsity sport:
Marshall STUNT Program Timeline
Summer 2026: Hire Inaugural STUNT Coach
Fall 2026: Begin facility enhancements and recruiting efforts
Fall 2027: Establish initial roster of 30 student-athletes
Spring 2028: Launch inaugural competitive season
Fall 2028: Expand roster to 45 student-athletes
Fall 2029: Roster expansion reaches maximum capacity with 65 student-athletes
Governed by USA Cheer, STUNT transforms traditional cheerleading skills into a head-to-head, four-quarter format that emphasizes athleticism and precision. Scoring is based on partner stunts, pyramids, jumps and tumbling with points awarded based on execution.
Currently, there are 40+ programs who sponsor STUNT at the NCAA level and there is a high level of growth within the sport in nearby states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Ohio, making it a source of recruitment for Marshall University through women's athletic opportunities.
The addition of STUNT will give Marshall 19 NCAA varsity sports – 11 Women's Sports and 8 Men's Sports.
To help Marshall's advancement of STUNT and its other sport programs, click HERE to donate to the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.
For all the latest information about Marshall Athletics, follow @HerdZone on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
