Midland Lutheran College announced this morning that it will add four new sports.

The new sports will be men's and women's bowling, a competitive dance/cheer squad, women's lacrosse and wrestling.

Midland president Ben Sasse announced the additions during a press conference at the Midland Lutheran College Event Center.

All the sports previously were offered at Dana College, which announced its closing last week. Midland has created a Dana@Midland program designed to help former Dana students transfer to MLC.

Midland also offered all of Dana's head coaches and some assistant coaches temporary or permanent contracts. An additional meeting was planned for later today with former Dana coaches.

Along with the coaches, several Dana staff in admissions, alumni relations, student services and information technology were hired by Midland to assist with the large number of students expected to transfer to Midland.

"We are grateful to the coaches and staff who are helping us to serve Dana's students as they transition to our campus," Sasse said. "At the core of each of the discussions I have had with our new hires over the course of the past few days is a true commitment to, and genuine concern for, their students and players."

Some Dana faculty also are being sought out by Midland, Sasse said, and would fill positions that are currently open as well as expanding programs that Midland is looking to add.

Midland has formed an emergency faculty committee that is meeting this week to review faculty candidates from Dana.

Sasse said Midland also is looking to serve Dana's alumni. Recent graduates of Dana still seeking employment can contact Midland Career Resource Center director Connie Bottger at 402-941-5471.

Bottger is creating a list of potential employers in the region that are hiring, and Bottger also has worked with a former Dana employee to transfer the credential files on record at Dana - used by education majors as points of reference for potential employers - to Midland.