The University of Iowa announced Friday that it is permanently canceling four sports programs amid financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement to the University of Iowa’s athletics community, University President Bruce Harreld and athletics director Gary Barta announced that the school would end men’s gymnastics, swimming and diving for men and women, and the men’s programs of tennis sports. ‘ the end of the 2020 academic year 2021.
“Each of these teams will have the opportunity to compete in their upcoming 2020-21 seasons, if conditions allow for COVID-19, before being stopped at the varsity level,” the two wrote.
University officials said cuts to funding were necessary due to a lack of revenue caused by the cancellation of the Big Ten Conference football season.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a financial requirement that threatens our continued ability to adequately support 24 inter-collegiate athletics programs at the desired championship level,” the statement continued. “With the postponement of the Big Ten Conference of the Fall Competition on August 11, the University of Iowa Athletics now projects revenues of about $ 100 million and an overall deficit between $ 60-75 million this fiscal year.”
The two added that a “loss of this magnitude will take years to overcome.”
Earlier in August, the Big Ten, of which the University of Iowa is a member, canceled its fall football season due to concerns about the pandemic.
“The mental and physical health and well-being of our student-athletes were at the heart of every decision we made about the ability to move forward,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren in a statement at the time.
Later that week, the Pac-12 Conference also kicked off its football season. Both conferences said their seasons could resume in the spring, though uncertainty remains as the nation continues to contain the virus.
In the statement Friday, Iowa executives said they have considered all of the programs’ financial options individually. However, they believe that making these permanent cuts would “strengthen athletics, position our programs for future success with the resources we have.”
Iowa football brings in a large portion of the university’s athletic income. A loss of a single home game would put the school back roughly $ 3.2 million, according to Hawk Central.
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