Post by Bornthrilla on Jan 14, 2010 9:46:15 GMT -5
Delaware State University announced today that it will eliminate two sports programs to save some $700,000 and get its athletics budget more in line with its conference foes.
The University will drop the men’s tennis and women’s equestrian programs at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. University officials said they would to honor its financial commitment to the student-athletes who are impacted by this decision and will assist those interested in transferring to another institution of higher education.
The DSU athletics budget is approximately $12 million for the current athletics year – the largest budget among institutions within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association, according to DSU officials.
“The five MEAC institutions that are below DSU in what they spend on athletics all have budgets that are $8 to $9 million this year,” athletic director Derek Carter said in a press release. “Couple that with the tough economic times that this university is facing, it is impossible to justify such a disparity between DSU and the other top institutions’ athletics spending.”
The elimination of men’s tennis and women’s equestrian will reduce the number of DSU intercollegiate athletics teams to 15. In 2009, the University dropped its wrestling program. There are no plans to eliminate any additional DSU sports programs at this time, Carter said.
“We want all of DSU’s athletics teams to be competitive and win championships in the MEAC. But it is impossible to support all our teams toward that end with a budget that is spread too thin,” DSU president Harry Williams said. “While it is not a decision we wanted to make, we are confident that it is in the best interest of the overall athletics program and the University as a whole.”
Both the university’s men’s tennis and the women’s equestrian teams will continue to compete in their respective remaining 2009-2010 seasons.
www.delawareonline.com/article/20....nate+two+sports
The University will drop the men’s tennis and women’s equestrian programs at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. University officials said they would to honor its financial commitment to the student-athletes who are impacted by this decision and will assist those interested in transferring to another institution of higher education.
The DSU athletics budget is approximately $12 million for the current athletics year – the largest budget among institutions within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association, according to DSU officials.
“The five MEAC institutions that are below DSU in what they spend on athletics all have budgets that are $8 to $9 million this year,” athletic director Derek Carter said in a press release. “Couple that with the tough economic times that this university is facing, it is impossible to justify such a disparity between DSU and the other top institutions’ athletics spending.”
The elimination of men’s tennis and women’s equestrian will reduce the number of DSU intercollegiate athletics teams to 15. In 2009, the University dropped its wrestling program. There are no plans to eliminate any additional DSU sports programs at this time, Carter said.
“We want all of DSU’s athletics teams to be competitive and win championships in the MEAC. But it is impossible to support all our teams toward that end with a budget that is spread too thin,” DSU president Harry Williams said. “While it is not a decision we wanted to make, we are confident that it is in the best interest of the overall athletics program and the University as a whole.”
Both the university’s men’s tennis and the women’s equestrian teams will continue to compete in their respective remaining 2009-2010 seasons.
www.delawareonline.com/article/20....nate+two+sports
