The University of Akron said it is eliminating men’s golf, women’s tennis and men’s cross country as part of a plan to reduce 23 percent of its athletics budget.
The cuts are expected to total $4.4 million. The university is in the process of cutting $65 million from its $325 million budget by early June through a reorganization of academics.
Larry Williams, director of athletics, said in a statement, “The elimination of these sports, along with salary reductions for select coaches, staff position eliminations, scholarship and operating reductions will total approximately $4.4 million.
“We are very saddened that we have had to make this move, but it is important and necessary at this time. This action aligns us with our Mid-American Conference peers in the total number of sports and is part of our ongoing effort to realign University resources to ensure that we continue to invest in high-demand, high-quality academic programs and world-class facilities.”
Other colleges are weighing cutbacks because of budget problems resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
In April, the University of Cincinnati eliminated its men’s soccer program and Old Dominion University eliminated wrestling. Also in April, Baylor University said it will delay building a new basketball facility that was supposed to open in time for the 2022-23 season as part of a plan to cut as much as $80 million in the next academic year.
Photo courtesy University of Akron
