Once they get here, the very teams they play for are left to hunt for cash in new ways. One way programs are coping is through developing alumni support, an area in which Noel excelled as wrestling coach. Noel's strengths in cultivating a strong alumni base in the wrestling program should bode well for the rest of the teams, says Rob Koll, the squad's current leader. Koll anticipates that coaches will be asked to raise more money each year to supplement the university's portion of their budgets. Increasingly, that work includes emphasizing women's programs, which are growing in popularity every year, from the WNBA's television exposure to 90,000-plus crowds for Women's World Cup soccer.
Women deserve to endure the same challenges of a tough opponent or difficult practice as men.
During his time at the top of the wrestlingprogram, Noel led his team to four Ivy League championships and two runner-up titles. He stayed until 1990, then became co-owner of Advantage Sport and Fitness Inc. in Ithaca before returning as an associate athletic director in 1996. Noel's first challenges will be in continuing Moore's efforts rather than making landmark changes of his own. Several buildings still need upgrading, including Lynah Rink and the men's and women's boathouses. Working with the admissions office to corral top prospects early remains important, as does continuing to push for financial support of the athletics department in an era of shrinking budgets.