CCC to Offer Three New Sports
COLUMBUS, Neb. – The Central Community College Board of Governors has approved the addition of three sports teams. The unanimous decision was made at the monthly board meeting on March 19 and brings the total number of CCC sports teams to 12.
Beach volleyball and women’s golf will be based at the Columbus Campus while women’s flag football will be located at the Hastings Campus.
“We are excited to expand our athletic offerings at Central Community College,” said Mary Young, CCC athletics director. “These programs create new opportunities for student-athletes and positions CCC to emerge as a forward-thinking institution. We are proud to be the first community college in Nebraska to offer beach volleyball and flag football, setting a new standard for innovation and student-athlete opportunity in the state.”
Bree Spenner, head coach of court volleyball, and Sam Elgert, head men’s golf coach, will respectively lead beach volleyball and women’s golf. Because head coaches are in place, recruiting will begin immediately for the spring 2027 season. Once a head coach for women’s flag football is hired, CCC athletics will determine if fielding a team spring 2027 is feasible.
“With Coach Spenner already leading court volleyball, adding beach volleyball provides a spring offering that will elevate the overall profile of our volleyball program and allow us to strategically use crossover players as we build the beach program,” said Young. “Similarly, with Coach Elgert, we have the leadership and expertise in place to grow both the men’s and women’s golf programs, building competitive, well-rounded teams that provide student-athletes the opportunity achieve success both on and off the course.”
“We are extremely excited about adding beach volleyball,” Spenner said. “Our current and potential student-athletes are now given an opportunity to learn, train and compete in a sport on the rise. I'm confident the addition of beach will elevate Raider volleyball and provide more opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the next level."
“I am honored to lead this new venture into NJCAA women’s golf because there are not many NJCAA schools in our area that offer it,” said Elgert. “The addition of women’s golf gives high school girls an opportunity here at CCC to continue their golf careers.”
The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), of which CCC is a member, has offered women’s golf for several years. The ICCAC officially added beach volleyball on March 17 while women’s flag football is seeking emerging status.
“CCC is excited about expanding opportunities to attract more student athletes to central Nebraska because it ultimately means more will stay to live and work after getting a top-notch education and student experience,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall.