Barton College Expands Athletic Programs with New Triathlon Teams

Barton College just announced it’s expanding its athletics program. Women’s and Men’s Triathlon are joining as varsity sports.

Women’s Triathlon will compete at the NCAA level. Men’s Triathlon will compete under USA Triathlon’s Collegiate Club program.

USA Triathlon is backing the college with support and a generous grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. Barton is already searching for the first head coach, aiming to start competition in fall 2026.

Expanding Athletic Horizons at Barton College

Barton College’s choice to add triathlon as a varsity sport really shows its commitment to offering more diverse athletic options. Ken Tyler, Barton’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, says triathlon fits right in with the college’s mission and business model.

This move could spark growth in other programs too, like swimming and cross-country. It’s a bit of a ripple effect.

The Growing Popularity of Triathlon

Triathlon combines swimming, cycling, and running. It’s been catching on across the U.S. lately.

Barton’s decision to add the sport seems pretty forward-thinking. USA Triathlon’s support, including that grant from their foundation, really highlights how much this sport is gaining ground.

Impact on Student-Athletes

Bringing triathlon to Barton should open up a lot of opportunities for student-athletes. Tim Yount, USA Triathlon’s Chief of Sport Development, sounded genuinely excited about the positive effects this program could have on students, both in and out of competition.

Student-athletes will get the chance to compete at a high level and build skills that go beyond just athletics. There’s something special about that kind of experience.

Enhanced Training and Competition

Barton plans to give its triathletes solid training and competition options. The college is looking to hire a dynamic coach to lead the way.

Adding triathlon should also boost related sports, like swimming and cross-country. That could make things a lot more competitive and interesting for everyone involved.

Support from USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon’s partnership has been a big deal in getting this program off the ground. Their grant from the foundation gave Barton the resources it needed to launch triathlon.

This partnership really shows both groups are committed to growing the sport and giving student-athletes a shot to excel.

National Search for Head Coach

Barton has kicked off a national search for its first head coach. Whoever takes the job will shape the program and recruit new talent.

Interested coaches can reach out to Assistant Athletic Director Christy Johnson. It’s a big opportunity for the right person.

Looking Ahead to Fall 2026

With fall 2026 on the horizon, there’s a lot of buzz around Barton’s new triathlon program. People seem genuinely excited about what’s coming next.

With support from USA Triathlon and a dedicated coaching staff, Barton College might just make some waves in collegiate triathlon. Guess we’ll see how it all plays out.

Conclusion

Barton College decided to add Women’s and Men’s Triathlon as varsity sports. It’s a pretty bold move, honestly—one that could really shake things up for student-athletes and the whole campus.

Triathlon’s popularity keeps climbing, and Barton seems ready to ride that wave. With USA Triathlon backing them, they’re in a good spot to build something special and maybe even a little unexpected.