Swimming and diving, cross country and track among those likely to go
The University of Maryland has taken a major step toward reducing the school’s $3.5 million athletic department deficit with the recommendation that eight teams be dropped.
A committee formed by President Wallace Loh has identified the following men’s sports for elimination — cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, tennis, and swimming and diving. Women’s sports proposed to be cut are acrobatics and tumbling, swimming and diving, and water polo.
Loh will gather feedback on the recommendations and make the final decision.
“I recognize that the recommendation to reduce the number of intercollegiate sports is distressing and saddening to the student-athletes, their families, coaches, and supporters,” Loh wrote in an announcement posted on the school website. “My intention is not to unduly draw out this time of uncertainty. However this is a most difficult situation that demands the most careful consideration.”
Among the Maryland teams that were considered in danger, but were spared were men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis, softball, baseball, and wrestling.
Loh formed a 17-member President’s Commission in July to address the budget problems. Their recommendations were sent to Loh on Friday.
The committee has recommended that the programs be discontinued as of July 1, 2012, but that scholarships will be honored through graduation, including those of incoming athletes set to arrive at Maryland in the fall of 2012.
The commission also recommended the revamping of fundraising. Revenues have plummeted dramatically, from $15.2 million in fiscal year 2008 to $9.1 million in FY 2011.
Increased athletic expenditures in recent years have created a growing deficit. For several years, foundation reserves were tapped to balance the budget. But the reserves have been depleted, forcing Maryland athletics to become self-supporting.
According to the report, in fiscal year 2011, expenditures exceeded revenues by $7.8 million, more than twice the shortfall in any of the previous five years.
The school has 750 athletes playing on 27 teams. If all eight teams recommended for elimination are cut, the number of athletes would drop to below 529. Boston College (31) and North Carolina (28) are the only Atlantic Coast Conference schools that offer more sports. Georgia Tech (17), Wake Forest (18), and Miami (18) offer the fewest.
According to the commission, the reduction in teams would allow Maryland to invest more in its athletes. Maryland currently invests 67,389 per athlete, the least of any ACC school. The measures recommended by the committee would allow for an expenditure of $107,849 per athlete, which would bump Maryland to sixth when the league grows to 14 teams with the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh.
“By putting into place a balanced an sustainable fiscal and programmatic plan, Maryland athletics will be able to support the 529 student athletes on these teams at a proper level to ensure their success in competition and in their studies,” stated the report. “This will include enhancements in academic support, health services, and media relations.”
