Boise State University is cutting some of its sports programs as the school continues to deal with the financial fallout of COVID-19.
Men’s baseball and women’s swimming and diving will not return next year, saving the athletics department $3 million.
“This is one of the hardest decisions athletic departments have to make, but it comes at a time when we are facing the most serious financial challenge we have ever seen,” Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey said in a statement.
All scholarships awarded to student-athletes will be honored, including incoming 2020 signees. Any student wishing to transfer will be immediately eligible to play at their next school and has the support of the university, athletics officials said.
It’s unclear how many student-athletes this will affect. Requests for further comment from the Boise State Athletics Department weren’t immediately returned.
In a statement, President Marlene Tromp said Boise State had already been analyzing the department’s budget to make it more sustainable prior to the pandemic.
“Ultimately, the reduction of the number of sports in which we compete allows Boise State a better chance of remaining competitive at the highest level and provides a more realistic roadmap to a sustainable future for the University and athletic department,” Tromp said.
2020 was supposed to be Boise State’s first baseball season in 40 years. The team played just 14 games before the coronavirus pandemic shut down college campuses across the country – including their athletic divisions.
The school’s swimming and diving team have had great success in recent years after moving to the Mountain West Conference, winning championships in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018.
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