Three sports are at risk of leaving the University of Idaho.
University of Idaho Provost and Executive Vice President John Wiencek told Faculty Senate Tuesday that a group exploring the possibility of cutting $1 million worth of spending in the UI Athletics Department is looking for creative alternatives to spending.
Wiencek said Vice President for Finance Brian Foisy, UI President Chuck Staben and acting Athletic Director Pete Isakson are the major figures in that working group.
Wiencek said there are two scenarios being discussed which the board will likely choose from. One scenario is to eliminate three sports from the athletic department.
Wiencek said the three sports that have been discussed for elimination include women’s swim and dive, women’s soccer and men’s golf. Wiencek said the addition of three sports may occur if these sports were eliminated.
The second scenario would add three sports to the UI athletic department. Wiencek said sports that have been discussed for addition to the department include triathlon, rifle and men’s swimming. Wiencek said these would be low-cost additions, especially when considering the athletics department already has coaches that would be suitable for these additions.
“They’re positive about the idea and encouraged us to bring it to the full board so that’s a good first sign,” Wiencek said.
Wiencek said Staben is advocating for the addition of sports rather than the elimination of them.Wiencek said the issue is far from simple, as there are many NCAA, Big Sky Conference and Title IX rules the university must follow when considering the elimination and addition of programs.
Foisy spoke against the elimination of any sports and said that it would not solve any debt issues, but rather transfer them to other financial offices.
“Frankly, I think it makes (UI) worse off overall. Cutting sports is not a debt elimination strategy. It is a debt transfer strategy,” Foisy said.
Foisy said the elimination of programs could make the deficit worse. Foisy said the amount of money paid by student athletes for tuition, room and board as well as books each year totals $6.5 million. Foisy said this is a good payout considering that the amount the athletics department spends each year is around $5.3 million.
Foisy said the elimination of any sport wouldn’t just cost the university enrollment in terms of athletes. According to Foisy, each athlete who comes to UI, attracts 1.6 people to also attend the university with them, whether they be family or friends.
Foisy said despite the pressure right now to fix budget deficits and shortfalls, the board does want the university to make rational and well thought out decisions that will help the university achieve its long-term goals.
“We’re just asking the board for some time. This bridge leads to somewhere and it’s actually a place that’s very good for the U of I,” Foisy said.
Multiple faculty senators questioned Foisy regarding the support athletes would receive if their sport was eliminated by the athletic department. Foisy said that Staben will likely do everything in his power to help all athletes.
“If the board gives (Chuck Staben) any flexibility at all, I don’t see him ripping the rug out from any student athlete that came here in good faith,” Foisy said.
Elizabeth Marshall can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EJMarshall_