The University of New Mexico will slash four sports as it attempts to deal with both financial problems and Title IX compliance issues.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, UNM will eliminate men’s soccer, men’s and women’s skiing, and women’s beach volleyball. The school will also significantly tweak schedules for men’s cross country and track, as well as women’s skiing and diving.
In a report on the matter, UNM called the cuts, “truly the last, best options to ensure the long-term success of UNM Athletics.”
In all, men’s soccer, the skiing programs and beach volleyball had a combined 66 student-athletes in 2017-18. The sports will be phased out by July 1, 2019.
“We’ll work with every one of these student athletes to help them in whatever avenue they choose,” including possible transfers, said athletic director Eddie Nuñez, who added that he’s optimistic those who transfer before the school year starts would be granted a waiver to play immediately at another Division I institution.
The cuts will achieve $1.15 million in savings out of the $1.9 million necessary to meet the school’s deficit-reduction plan.
