App State cuts 3 men’s athletics programs due to COVID-19 budget impacts

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BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University announced Tuesday that it is cutting several varsity sports programs in response to the financial impact of COVID-19.

Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said the university is cutting men’s soccer, men’s tennis and men’s indoor track & field effective immediately.

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The three sports were discontinued following a review of the university’s sport offerings and the long-term budget implications of supporting the current number of student-athletes.

App State is one of the latest universities that has sliced its programs to cut costs.

East Carolina University recently cut four of its programs as well.

School officials said the sport reductions at App State are part of a 20% overall reduction to the athletics department’s budget for fiscal year 2021, which equates to an approximate $5 million reduction.

“This is a very difficult day for the entire App Family,” Gillin said.

”We appreciate everyone who has supported these Mountaineer programs over the years, including current and former coaches, current and former student-athletes, their families, donors and fans," he added. “Your legacy is important to us.”

Scholarships will be honored for the affected student-athletes who want to return to App State, as well as for incoming signees.

The cuts will leave the Mountaineers with 17 NCAA Division I sports (seven men’s sports and 10 women’s sports).

Gillin also said that current athletics staff openings will not be filled and that more cuts and changes are possible.

President of Belmont Abbey Dr. Bill Thierfelder said lessons from the recession in 2008 are helping the private college to survive in these times.

“We’re actually still on a record number for enrollment for next year,” he said. “I know a lot of schools I’m hearing from right now are seeing steep declines right this minute.”

Thierfelder said since the pandemic, they’ve had zero layoffs or furloughs. He said one key factor has been lowering tuition by 33% and keeping it there for the last seven years.

“The 2008 recession was that moment in time where I saw there was an opportunity to lower the tuition and not have the reputation to fall apart,” he said.

Thierfelder told Channel 9 that they’ve also been conservative about staffing and new construction at Belmont Abbey.

Whereas at App State, funding for its track facilities is hanging in the balance. University leaders said they’re aggressively fundraising to complete the projects.

“I think people are re-examining priorities, like what’s actually really important and what’s necessary,” Thierfelder said.

He said his staff continues to be in assessment mode because so much of the crisis is day by day.

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Title IX major factor for colleges looking at sports cuts

Colleges mulling whether to cut sports amid the coronavirus pandemic must ensure they remain compliant with the federal civil-rights law known as Title IX.

Schools face financial challenges after the shutdown of college and professional sports in March. It’s also unclear whether schools will be able to have sports on reopened campuses this fall.

Any changes to a school’s sports offerings must factor in Title IX by ensuring the equitable treatment of remaining men’s and women’s programs.

Appalachian State, Cincinnati, East Carolina and Old Dominion are among schools that have cut non-revenue programs. Cuts have fallen mostly on men’s programs.