UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- Saginaw Valley State University Athletics arrived at a mutually beneficial multi-year partnership with Covenant HealthCare to be recognized as the exclusive sports medicine provider for SVSU.
"This is an exciting day for Cardinal Athletics," said Interim Director of Athletics Angela Pohl. "We pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of healthcare to more than 500 student-athletes at Saginaw Valley State University. Formalizing a transformational partnership with Covenant HealthCare and its world-class team of professionals is awesome! Our partnership demonstrates a leap forward for SVSU and Cardinal Athletics, paving the way for us to continue to be a highly competitive and nationally relevant program that our boosters, alumni, and fans embrace and support."
The expansive partnership agreement, including naming rights will see the athletic training rooms inside the Ryder Center be named the Covenant HealthCare Cardinal Care Center. The resources provided by Covenant will fund personnel positions in the areas of athletic training as well as strength and conditioning.
"Covenant leadership continues to keep our eye on the present while also looking to the future," said Covenant HealthCare Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Birchmeier. "With our history of working together, we are excited for this new partnership between SVSU and Covenant Sports Medicine. The relationship aligns with our mission, the services we offer, and the growth of both organizations over the past 25+ years."
As the newest corporate partner for Cardinal Athletics, Covenant HealthCare will receive numerous marketing assets, including but not limited to naming rights, logo recognition on the O'Neill Arena floor, advertising, and various other promotional opportunities.
About Covenant HealthCare
Covenant HealthCare is a non-profit health system committed to providing patients across east central Michigan with extraordinary care for every generation. With more than 4,600 employees, an extensive provider network, and a 642-bed hospital, Covenant offers a wide range of comprehensive medical services including high-risk obstetrics, neonatal and pediatric intensive care and acute care, a Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, robotic surgery, sports medicine, neurosciences, bariatric services, and more. Additionally, Mary Free Bed at Covenant HealthCare provides expert rehabilitation services to patients in the Great Lakes Bay Region, including the Transitional Care Community (TCC). Learn more at covenanthealthcare.com or covenantsportsmedicine.com.
About Saginaw Valley State University Athletics
Saginaw Valley State University's athletic department is a member of the NCAA in Division II and is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). It features 19 sports - 9 men's (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field) and 10 women's (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and volleyball). SVSU will field a women's lacrosse team next year rounding out sport sponsorship at 20 offerings in 2024-25. A perennial powerhouse in Division II athletics, SVSU has finished 35th in the Learfield Directors' Cup all-sports standings and 2nd in the GLIAC Presidents' Trophy standings in 2022-23.
Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its nearly 8,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty, and staff. For six consecutive years, SVSU has been recognized as a "Great College to Work For" (2016-2021).
SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements, or some other component of their academic preparation.
SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations, and school districts to improve students' performance in math, science, and the arts at the middle school, high school, and university levels.
More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housing that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2021). SVSU fields 19 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.svsu.edu.