Status of Rockhurst athletics during COVID-19 

As the Rockhurst community is on spring break during the fluid COVID-19 precautions taking place, Rockhurst athletic programs remain suspended, including any practice or competition and all campus/school-sponsored facilities.

On Monday, March 16, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) announced that if schools have either closed or moved to an online learning environment that sports practices, conditioning, or competitions are to be canceled. At this time, Rockhurst will be in that environment through and including April 3. The school’s administration is meeting daily to follow the fluid and unprecedented events which are unfolding. Spring sports seasons have NOT been canceled, as of now, by MSHSAA, but Speech and Debate and Music Festival championships have been canceled.  Our lacrosse and volleyball programs, while not under the governance of MSHSAA, will follow suit in terms of this same level of postponement.

During the period of postponement, it is acceptable for coaches to send recommendations to team members on means to creatively maintain fitness and skills at a team member’s home but not in any team or group setting, with the approval of parents, and presuming that the team member is not experiencing any of the symptoms of the virus or any other health issues. These recommendations are optional. 

Plans are also being considered for means that coaches and team members can maintain a team community. A goal in this plan is to provide support and understanding that many individuals have a passion for their involvement in athletics and while these measures are necessary, based on the requirements and recommendations of local and state governing associations, we must be a community of concern and compassion as we move to a new daily structure of our routines.

We remain prayer-filled for all of us as we manage the new stressors of this reality. 

Michael Dierks

Athletic Director

March 17, 2020

Baseball - Head Coach Jim DeGraw (jdegraw@rockhursths.edu)
Golf - Head Coach Mark Nusbaum (mnusbaum@rockhursths.edu)
Lacrosse - Head Coach Tim Reidy (treidy@rockhursths.edu)
Tennis - Head Coach Mark Mills (mmills@rockhursths.edu)
Track & Field - Head Coach Troy Harding (tharding@rockhursths.edu)