St. Cloud, Minn. (KARE/NBC) St. Cloud State University is shuttering its football and men’s and women’s golf programs, the school announced Tuesday.
In a news release, the University said the changes were being made “to ensure Title IX compliance, and to address the financial sustainability and success of the university and its teams.”
According to the release, the changes will affect about 115 student athletes, as well as seven coaches and two graduate assistants.
As part of the overhaul, the university will add men’s soccer, in order to comply with NCAA sport sponsorship legislation. The release notes the sport’s increase in popularity, as well as its lower staffing, scholarship, and operational costs.
SCSU will have 17 athletic programs in NCAA Division I and II after the changes, with six men’s sports and 11 women’s sports at the beginning of the 2020 academic year.
“We made this extremely difficult decision because St. Cloud State faces a convergence of circumstances that required us to change our athletics offerings,” St. Cloud State President Robbyn Wacker said in a prepared statement. “This will have a profound impact on our committed student-athletes, our dedicated coaches, and the passionate alumni and supporters who have followed our programs throughout their proud histories. Our student-athletes and coaches approach every day with incredible devotion and desire to be their best and represent St. Cloud State in the classroom, on the field, and in our community. We are grateful for their commitment and will assist them as they move forward.”
