Cleveland, Ohio – buyouts, layoffs and budget cuts.
It is the economic reality of most higher education establishments. This is why it was not a shock to hear the state of Cleveland Cut three sports: struggle, softball and women’s golf course.
“In the end, the board of directors and athletics were responsible for making significant discounts,” said Kelsie Gory Harkey, CSU sports director. “It’s difficult and painful. We did so so that we can continue to live a transformative and competitive division I experience. »»
Here is the agreement: CSU wants to stay in terms of division I and stay in the Horizon league. To do this, they must align at least 14 teams. They now have 15.
CSU had a deficit of $ 40 million at the end of the university year 2024. According to a History of Cleveland.com, it’s about $ 10 million After major cuts in various university departments.
In 2021, the Athletics Department did not give up any team, but made major cuts in terms of coaches, wages and scholarships. I was told that between the cuts in 2021 and the most recent movements, around 2.5 million dollars will be saved.
What happens next?
Gory Harkey said that the elimination of three teams involves around 60 athletes: 30 men, 30 women. CSU wanted gender equity to comply with title IX.
Seven coaches are involved, five are full time. In terms of scholarships, there are only eight full sports scholarships among the teams. But they are cut into smaller games to help more student-athletes.
“We will honor these scholarships for athletes to the completion of their diplomas,” said Gory Harkey.
The control program was about to be reduced in 2015, but fundraising and CSU students voted to approve an increase in costs to save the program. The wrestling team and supporters should try to save the program.
The Softball Women’s team won the 2024 Horizon League and went to the NCAA tournament.
Cleveland State women’s basketball coach, Chris Kielsmeier, led his team as the Horizon League of the 2024 regular season. Frank Jansky, special for Cleveland.com
Difficult discussions, painful decisions
Difficult discussions like those that CSU has endured occur in many universities. Registration decreases in most places. The University of Akron has a massive budget deficit. Kent’s state also faces a deficit.
The CSU is probably ahead of the trend when it comes to cutting sport. Many other universities will follow – in particular those in the middle of the middle of the adult.
An ESPN story estimates up to 10,000 The list points could be cut because the NCAA offers limits of alignment in most sports.
Welcome to the world of name, image and resemblance (zero) and universities that can now pay their athletes directly. There has always been a gap between schools in the leagues such as the Mid-American conference and the horizon compared to Big Ten or the dry. The new rules (or in fact, almost no rules) concerning the remuneration of players simply make it wider.
The CSU is better than many medium sports departments because the Vikings do not have a football program. This saves school from a major major budget.
Cleveland state coach Daniyal Robinson has his team on a sequence of 11 consecutive victories. John Kuntz, Cleveland.com
There are good news
Gory Harkey spoke of the general success of the Sports Department. The volleyball women’s team won the title of the 2024 Horizon League in the fall. This is the sixth time that coach Chuck Voss has led the Vikings to the NCAA tournament.
The CSU male tennis team also went to the 2024 NCAA tournament. It was the ninth time that the team of coach Brian Etzkin has reached the playoffs.
Male and female basketball has been exceptional.
“GPA for all student-athletes is 3.47,” she said. “The decisions we made were not only to benefit from basketball. This keeps us competitive and gives students-athletes a good division that I feel in all our sports. »»
But basketball is what draws attention to the CSU sports department.
The men of the CSU carry a sequence of 11 consecutive victories At the Wolstein Center for the 3 p.m. Saturday match against the Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Vikings lead the Horizon League with a 9-1 file and are classified 24th in the most recent top 25 basketball basketball.
During his 2 1/2 seasons at CSU, coach Daniyal Robinson has a 57-35 file with the Vikings.
The women of the CSU face Ohio Christian at 11:30 am at the Wolstein Center on Saturday. They have a file of 16-4, 8-2 in the Horizon League. CSU is ranked 20th in the last top 25 of the middle of the middle finger. Coach Chris Kielsmeier has a record of 141-64 with the Vikings. His team went to the NCAA 2023 tournament and won the regular season of the Horizon League 2024.
“We are not in a unique position,” said Gory-Harkey. “Many schools realign their budgets. It is a difficult environment. We are very successful. There are a lot of positive points here when you look at the whole department. We also do not plan to have other cuts in other programs. »»