DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050644

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MURFREESBORO                      LENGTH:   55 lines

CHOWAN COLLEGE GAINS DIVISION III STATUS NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR PLANS A REVIEWOF THE SCHOOL'S NEXT MOVES.

A new era of athletics at Chowan College was born the past few weeks when the college made two major steps to expand its program.

On Monday, the school was officially notified by the NCAA Management Council that it had become an active Division III member. Also, Diane Morea, the assistant director of athletics at Ball State University, was named the new athletic director at Chowan.

Chowan, formerly a junior college, has been on provisional status with the NCAA for the past three years. The NCAA requires a program to demonstrate the ability to stay consistent with the ``Division III philosophy.''

Now, Chowan will be eligible for postseason play, can vote at the annual NCAA convention, and will be covered under the NCAA Catastrophic Athletics Injury Insurance plan.

Morea replaces Jim Garrison, who had been the athletic director at Chowan since 1958. He is now the executive director of the Braves Foundation.

Morea plans to take the college's new Division III status and run with it.

``The fact that we've been accepted as a Division III institution says a great deal for Chowan,'' Morea said. ``The next thing is to take a look at goals and directions so that we can put together a comprehensive plan and go forth for membership in the Dixie Conference.''

Morea said other goals are to expand the women's program and build a new football field.

``We want to take a look at what the students are interested in and begin programs that will bring some numbers in for us,'' Morea said. ``Field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, track, cross country. There are different ways we can go. We also have to take a look at staffing those teams. We will look at the strengths and weaknesses of the coaches and look if we have to make some changes.''

Morea just completed her 11th year at Ball State as the assistant in charge of marketing promotions and student services. The Division I school, which has just under 19,000 students, plays in the Mid-America Conference. Chowan, with an average enrollment of 700 to 800 students, is more like the school where Morea started.

``Prior to going to Ball State, I was at Lake Erie College, which is a small school in Ohio, so I have been at small institutions,'' Morea said. ``What attracted me to Chowan was the strength of the athletic department. It's a golden opportunity for me to go back to a small institution as an athletic director. I was AD at Lake Erie and decided to make a jump to a big school. Now I'm ready to go back to a smaller school that is ready to be successful.''

Morea has been back and forth between Ohio and Indiana meeting with Garrison.

``I will be meeting with coaches when I get back on board,'' she said.

Morea holds a master's degree in business administration from Lake Erie College, and a master's degree in educational administration and bachelor's degree in physical education from Western Michigan University.

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