Washington State University will transfer $20 million to its athletics department to cover an expected budget shortfall caused by a decrease in media rights revenue.
As reported by The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, the university’s Board or Regents approved the resolution Friday in an effort to holistically help the university’s lagging enrollment and retention.
“This action reflects the Board’s recognition that a strong Athletics program is one of the main drivers of student recruitment, retention and institutional pride,” WSU president Betsy Cantwell said in a statement, as reported by Lucille Stutesman of The Spokesman-Review.
Regent Marty Dickinson called on donors to “double down” on investments and pledges to WSU to further support the athletics program.
“It is a call to action to our donors,” she said. “We need them to double down with us right now and lean into this, because it too is time for them to come forth and join us.”
The shortfall is due to the end of funds received from a settlement after mass defections from the Pac-12 Conference and a new media deal for the rebuilt Pac-12 that provides less than the previous deal.
“There’s a gap between the historical distributions and what we’re going to receive from the conference moving forward,” WSU interim athletics director Jon Haarlow said.
According to documents shared in the regents meeting, WSU has had eyes on the athletics budget shortfall ever since the collapse of the Pac-12 in 2023, calling it “imminent.” WSU athletics in 2025 approved a reduction in its budget of more than $9 million, which resulted in 32 layoffs, Stutesman reported.
WSU will not decide where the money will come from to patch the shortfall until the regents meet again in May.
According to Stutesman, the shortfall will not affect the $12 million renovation of Gesa Field, WSU’s football stadium, which so far attracted roughly $11 million in commitments.
