READING, Pa. - Co-Directors of Athletics Rick Ferry and Janice Luck announced on Thursday that Albright College will add a women's golf program, which will begin competition in fall 2010. Ken Dixon, Jr. will serve as the program's first head coach.

“We are thrilled to add women's golf to our offering of sports. Having a coach with Ken's credentials to start the program gets us off to a great start. Women's golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the NCAA and is a sport that will aid in the overall recruiting at the college,” said Ferry.

Dixon, who is a professional golf instructor at the Berkshire Country Club in Reading, Pa., has been a Class-A PGA Professional and has more than 15 years of experience in the private club sector. He has worked at the Berkshire since February 1997, and was promoted to the club's first assistant in 2003.

Throughout his career, Dixon has worked with a variety of players at all different skill levels. A lead instructor at numerous junior clinics and camps, Dixon has played a major part in the increased participation in the Junior Golf Program.

As Albright's first women's golf coach, Dixon will be responsible for building the program and will begin the recruiting process immediately. The Berkshire Country Club, which has served as the home for the men's golf program will serve as the new home for the women's program as well.

"I am very excited about being a part of introducing a women's golf program to Albright College. As a member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of America, one of our primary goals as an organization is to grow the game of golf. The creation of a women's team and the addition of conference play in the Middle Atlantic Conference is a great way to do that. I look forward to finding current students and recruiting prospective students to complete our team. After that, I will try to develop the team into contenders for the conference title as soon as possible,” said Dixon.

With the addition of the women's golf program, Albright College now fields 21 NCAA Division III teams. Albright also becomes just the second college in the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MASCAC) to add a women's golf program.

For more information about the women's golf program contact Coach Dixon at kenjendixon@msn.com.