UConn’s plan for cutting $10 million from its athletic budget will be presented Friday and could shape the department for years to come (Amore)

[huskymedic]

More of a rehash than anything else...



Alternate access link here

 

[uconndogs]

Athletics aside for the moment, the changes coming to higher education will be very significant. It was clear pre-pandemic that higher education operated with a cost structure that did not work in todays world. COVID may actually drive some much needed change that will hopefully expand access to affordable higher education over the long term.

That all said, athletic departments are in an awful spot right now and I honestly don't know what they do to fill these gaps over the next 12-24 months. Could be some very heart rendering decisions made.

 

[CTMike]

Just be prepared for more hit pieces why Football will still be played at UConn while other sports get cut.

 

[Big Fan]

Article makes a good point about Central Florida only having 16 varity sports. Clemson went to 16, now 17 a few years ago; and they have a lot more $ coming in through the ACC and won a college football championship (so you know where the money is going and coming from) UConn cannot sustain it's current level of number of sports team, coaches salaries (yes women's basketball - the highest in the country) and spending and operating like they are in the Big 10.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Just be prepared for more hit pieces why Football will still be played at UConn while other sports get cut.

You're really going out on a limb with that hot take.

 

[CTMike]

You're really going out on a limb with that hot take.

Wasn’t a hot take at all, just an observation. The hit pieces have been coming weekly... when football isn’t one of the sports that is cut, the hit pieces will continue. They are tiresome.

 

[UConnJim]

Maybe announcing cuts will motivate alumni and fans to donate more to UConn athletics. Nothing like a crisis to motivate action.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Cut 10 million when Ollie finally goes away

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Maybe announcing cuts will motivate alumni and fans to donate more to UConn athletics. Nothing like a crisis to motivate action.

Already saved golf this way

 

[Dooooooomed]

Already saved golf this way

Sounds like Track/XC too. That only leaves tennis and swimming/diving on table.

 

[gtcam]

Article makes a good point about Central Florida only having 16 varity sports. Clemson went to 16, now 17 a few years ago; and they have a lot more $ coming in through the ACC and won a college football championship (so you know where the money is going and coming from) UConn cannot sustain it's current level of number of sports team, coaches salaries (yes women's basketball - the highest in the country) and spending and operating like they are in the Big 10.

Are you saying that UConn should cut Geno's salary or replace him?
Is he earning more than DH? Who has won more NCs?
I am not a womens basketball fan, I am a huge mens basketball fan, but to address his salary and not mention DH's is a bit disingenuous
What sports would you cut? UConn has a storied history in both mens and womens soccer so that would make little sense (plus the new facilities), field hockey has been ultra successful, mens ice hockey has ECAC affiliation which is so important, golf has been given close to financial independence.....................

 

[UCONNJACK]

Are you saying that UConn should cut Geno's salary or replace him?
Is he earning more than DH? Who has won more NCs?
I am not a womens basketball fan, I am a huge mens basketball fan, but to address his salary and not mention DH's is a bit disingenuous
What sports would you cut? UConn has a storied history in both mens and womens soccer so that would make little sense (plus the new facilities), field hockey has been ultra successful, mens ice hockey has ECAC affiliation which is so important, golf has been given close to financial independence.....................

Men’s hockey has ECAC affiliation?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Are you saying that UConn should cut Geno's salary or replace him?
Is he earning more than DH? Who has won more NCs?
I am not a womens basketball fan, I am a huge mens basketball fan, but to address his salary and not mention DH's is a bit disingenuous
What sports would you cut? UConn has a storied history in both mens and womens soccer so that would make little sense (plus the new facilities), field hockey has been ultra successful, mens ice hockey has ECAC affiliation which is so important, golf has been given close to financial independence.....................

Hockey East, not ECAC. Agree that those sports should be last on the list, along with Baseball, where we have also had considerable success.

 

[Ajs120102]

Are you saying that UConn should cut Geno's salary or replace him?
Is he earning more than DH? Who has won more NCs?
I am not a womens basketball fan, I am a huge mens basketball fan, but to address his salary and not mention DH's is a bit disingenuous
What sports would you cut? UConn has a storied history in both mens and womens soccer so that would make little sense (plus the new facilities), field hockey has been ultra successful, mens ice hockey has ECAC affiliation which is so important, golf has been given close to financial independence.....................

If each coach cuts 10% of salary that’s a large chunk of deficit for year 1. Golf and track fundraised enough for probably 1-2 years. Gives athletic department time to fix budget issues

 

[jdb50]

Other schools in larger conferences- or I should say conferences with much larger payouts- have already cut coach salaries for the short term and reduced staff. Rutgers and Louisville IIRC. We knew about this large $40 mil deficit for a while now and nothing has been done yet? Some sports will have to be cut to get to 16. There is no reason to have more sports than other schools when we are independent . Alumni donating money is nice but does this keep their favored sport in business forever or is it a short term stay of execution? Structural change is needed and cutting sports no one watches or attends and involves players competing as individuals is the place to start. So for me tennis, golf, cross country, track and field, and swimming are to ones to let go.

 

[CL82]

I sure hope that Dave cuts Athletic Dept. overhead as a part of this package. Our administrative costs are too high.

FWIW, cutting $10M over three years is a start, but when you are $42M in the hole, more is needed.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Other schools in larger conferences- or I should say conferences with much larger payouts- have already cut coach salaries for the short term and reduced staff. Rutgers and Louisville IIRC. We knew about this large $40 mil deficit for a while now and nothing has been done yet? Some sports will have to be cut to get to 16. There is no reason to have more sports than other schools when we are independent . Alumni donating money is nice but does this keep their favored sport in business forever or is it a short term stay of execution? Structural change is needed and cutting sports no one watches or attends and involves players competing as individuals is the place to start. So for me tennis, golf, cross country, track and field, and swimming are to ones to let go.

JDB you are entitled to your opinion. I would counter and say that by moving away from the AAC, UConn started the steps to close the gap. I ask, when you are the state university, do people expect to have more sports because it represents a diverse universe of athletes? Other than Lacrosse and Wrestling, what not new sports don't we have? B-T-W, I agree some sports need to go but there is lots of administrative overhead and people keep forgetting the key phrase- cut the deficit by $10M over 3 years. That means the administration has 3 years to make these cuts to get down that number. Lots of plans, contingencies, etc will take place here to make that happen.

 

[BlueDogs]

If you stop treating education like a business and more like an essential societal function that also drives the economy, brings communities together and sparks entertainment in many forms from performance arts to sports, the ludicrous nature of the “deficit” becomes obvious. Simply put, the legislature has pissed away so much money stupid stuff and bloated bureaucracy they refuse to prioritize higher education. The legislature has financed state education on the backs of tuition increases that are out whack with many peers.

 

[Dooooooomed]

Men's Tennis Adds Three for 2020-21 - University of Connecticut Athletics

Probably don't release this the night before if it's one of the programs getting the axe...

 

[shizzle787]

UConn isn't cutting any sports. Just watch.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

The king has spoken

 

[jdb50]

JDB you are entitled to your opinion. I would counter and say that by moving away from the AAC, UConn started the steps to close the gap. I ask, when you are the state university, do people expect to have more sports because it represents a diverse universe of athletes? Other than Lacrosse and Wrestling, what not new sports don't we have? B-T-W, I agree some sports need to go but there is lots of administrative overhead and people keep forgetting the key phrase- cut the deficit by $10M over 3 years. That means the administration has 3 years to make these cuts to get down that number. Lots of plans, contingencies, etc will take place here to make that happen.

I do not see how spreading out a cut over 3 years will will save the money quickly enough to deal with revenue losses in tuition from on campus students, declines in ticket revenue, a possible reduction in State contribution due to tax revenue declines affecting the budget. Now you have lawyers suing university's for lack of delivery for services charged. The economic fallout from covid is way beyond the response so far that people in institutions are planning for. How many out of country full tuition students that keep university's afloat are going to be able to travel back? Things are going to be thrown overboard in many areas that people have not realized yet to keep ships afloat.

 

[CTMike]

UConn isn't cutting any sports. Just watch.

Ignore Shizzle predictions at your own peril!

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Personally, I think the football (and baseball for that matter) budget needs to be increased not trimmed! We need to have one of the best coaching staffs in the US with lots of money for recruiting! Beyond that, are there any long-term projections on which sports may be among the most popular in the coming decades nationally (lacrosse)? Also, what sports could benefit wildly from a minor budget increase (such as sailing where UConn could be in the top 10 in the USA if they had decent boats and well-attended regattas?)

 

[TMB4405]

Cutting overhead is fine and I am sure there is a lot that can be trimmed. I am sick of the reference to 42 mill deficits. The accounting is misleading. Also, ask yourself if University of Connecticut would look like it does today without the athletic successes it has had. When I went there it was kind of a shithole (loved it anyway). To me the notoriety and advancement that successful sports teams drive is worth a cost.