National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Apr 12, 2010 8:43:58 AM

Tennessee Tech will suspend rifle and women's tennis as part of a restructuring of the athletics department designed to cut costs and maintain athletics competitiveness.

Both teams will be eliminated July 1. The move leaves the Golden Eagles with 14 sports teams. The school will honor scholarship commitments made to 14 student-athletes for the 2010-11 year. One part-time coaching position will be eliminated.

"This was a difficult choice to make, given the history of our rifle and women's tennis programs (the Golden Eagles won National Collegiate rifle championships in 1981, 1982 and 1983), but it was a necessary one made in the best interests of Tennessee Tech athletics as a whole," said Athletics Director Mark Wilson. "It is not financially viable for us to continue to support the number of sports we do at the current level. With this decision we are confident that we will strengthen our remaining sports programs."

President Bob Bell said the economic downturn played a role in the decision, with the athletics department facing an estimated reduction in university general fund support up to $365,000, plus increased inflationary costs that could exceed $400,000.

"With this strategic restructuring and our continued emphasis on identifying additional revenue, we believe we can position our resources to allow our teams to achieve great success in the Ohio Valley Conference, regionally and nationally," said Wilson.

Tennessee Tech will continue to compete in the OVC in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's tennis, women's soccer, softball, women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and women's volleyball.