The University of Hawaii is considering a proposal to cut up to three of its sports teams, with men’s and women’s swimming & diving among the prime candidates, the Pacific Business Journal reports.
According to the Pacific Business Journal story, the potential cuts are being spurred by NCAA rule changes that could cost the school upwards of $1 million.
Athletic Director Ben Jay provided a report that estimated the athletic department’s deficit to be around $11 million over the years from 2016 to 2018. Jay’s report included some cost-saving proposals, including the elimination of up to three sports teams.
The specific sports to be cut would be selected based on what kept the school legal under Title IX as well as conference and NCAA requirements. The Pacific Business Journal lists two options from the report: cutting both swimming & diving teams along with the co-ed sailing program, or eliminating men’s volleyball, women’s sailing and the co-ed sailing program.
There has been concern that changes in the NCAA’s structure could ultimately lead to swimming & diving programs being cut. Hawaii’s location provides unique challenges in paying for transportation to various athletic events, so it makes sense that the school would be among the first to feel a budget crunch based on new rules.
The last Division I team to announce the elimination of swimming & diving programs was the College of Chareleston just last fall. CofC is currently wrapping up what could be its final season, though the team has been working with the school on ways to continue the program.
The Hawaii men and women compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
This “cost of attendance” allotment is going to be the death of the Olympic sports at the division Ievel.
The college of charleston swimmers were informed last week that the decision to cut the team at the end of the season was final. just an fyi