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Earlier today, The Stride Report received an update from a source who stated that Minnesota's men's indoor and outdoor track teams will be cut following the completion of the 2020-21 academic calendar.
Shortly after, The Daily Gopher reported via Twitter that men's gymnastics, men's tennis and men's track and field (indoor and outdoor) will be eliminated.
Minnesota's Athletic Department has since released a statement confirming the cuts.
An open letter by University President Joan Gabel and Athletic Director Mark Coyle explained that the BIG 10's decision to postpone fall 2020-21 sports has created significant financial concerns for Minnesota's athletic department.
Minnesota's athletic department is now facing "a projected loss of revenue of approximately $75 million just this fiscal year." The alignment of Title IX "participation opportunities" also played a role in this decision according to the release.
The announcement also detailed a "Personnel Cost-Reduction Plan" which stated the following...
In addition to adjusting our sport offerings, we are also announcing a personnel cost-reduction plan for Athletics. This is in addition to the University's previously implemented furlough and pay-reduction plan, which members of the athletic department already participated in. Most academic professional and administrative employees will be subject to a 10 percent reduction in appointment, while civil service and labor represented employees will be furloughed for 17 days. These impacts will continue for the remainder of the fiscal year. Employees who make $40,000 or less will not be impacted.
The athletic department is also eliminating eight positions in addition to those that will be eliminated because of program discontinuation. The department anticipates a savings of $1.3 million this fiscal year related to its personnel cost-reduction plan.
It was previously announced that Director of Athletics Mark Coyle and head coaches P.J. Fleck, Hugh McCutcheon, Bob Motzko, Richard Pitino and Lindsay Whalen volunteered for a 10 percent salary reduction. That reduction will now be extended through the entire fiscal year and will result in a savings of an additional $1.2 million.
Minnesota's men's track and field program has produced a handful of high-level distance runners over the past few years. They include, but are not limited to...
Obsa Ali
Ben Blankenship
Hassan Mead
Harun Abda
Travis Burkstrand
Last week, William & Mary announced that they would be eliminating seven varsity sports, including their men's indoor and outdoor track and field teams.