El Camino College Women’s Tennis Reinstated Amid Federal Investigation

In a surprising turn, El Camino College (ECC) has decided to reinstate its women’s tennis team. The program was cut in the spring of 2025.

This decision comes as the college faces an active federal investigation into its Title IX compliance. Title IX mandates gender equity in educational institutions.

The women’s tennis program’s return opens up new opportunities for female athletes. At the same time, it raises some eyebrows—what really drove this sudden change?

Let’s dig into the reinstatement, the federal probe, and the bigger trends shaking up college tennis programs across the country.

The Reinstatement of ECC Women’s Tennis Team

After almost a year away, the ECC women’s tennis team is making a comeback. The program was originally cut because of budget issues and a rough performance streak.

Robyn Wong, a former player and data science major, said she understood the decision even though it stung. But interest in the program grew, and ECC started to reconsider.

Interim Dean of Kinesiology, Athletics, and Public Safety, Jeffrey Baumunk, said they reallocated funds to bring the team back. That must have taken some maneuvering, considering the earlier budget squeeze.

Background and Initial Cut

When ECC cut the women’s tennis program in 2025, it hit the athletes hard. Steven Van Kanegan, the coach who led them to their first State Championship in 2022, had just retired.

Filling his shoes proved tough. The team struggled, losing every match that season, and with money tight, the program got axed.

Federal Title IX Investigation

The women’s tennis team’s return lines up closely with a Title IX investigation by the federal Office for Civil Rights. The investigation looks at whether ECC has kept up with women’s athletic needs and interests.

David Levin, who used to coach ECC badminton, thinks the investigation had a lot to do with the team’s reinstatement. He claims the college’s actions don’t match up with their earlier reasons for cutting the program.

Wider Impact on College Tennis Programs

ECC isn’t alone in these struggles. College tennis programs are under threat all over the country.

Schools like the University of Arkansas and Division II institutions such as William Jewell College and Colorado State University Pueblo have also dropped their tennis teams. They usually blame the changing landscape of college sports and the challenge of supporting these programs.

National Trends

AP News and Sports Illustrated both note that cutting tennis programs is a national trend. The University of Arkansas said they just couldn’t provide enough support for their men’s and women’s tennis teams.

Other schools echo this, pointing to a bigger issue in college athletics. Maybe it’s not just about the money, but who knows?

California Community College Scene

Things aren’t looking much better at California community colleges. Abigail Francisco, ECC’s Athletic Director, said tennis programs have shrunk over the years.

She mentioned that keeping these programs alive in their conference has gotten harder, which hints at waning support and interest.

Future Prospects for ECC Women’s Tennis

Even with all the challenges, there’s a sense of hope for ECC’s women’s tennis team. Robyn Wong, who has since transferred, won’t be coming back, but she’s excited about the team’s return.

Her enthusiasm seems to reflect the overall mood among students and faculty. People are genuinely looking forward to seeing the team back on the court.