Northern Iowa will discontinue its baseball team after the 2009 season. Athletics Director Troy Dannen said financial reasons forced the decision.

“This is a sad day for Northern Iowa athletics,” he said. “Current budget estimates project the university will see at least a 9 percent reduction in state funding. That reduction directly impacts intercollegiate athletics.

“The projected gap between revenues and expenses for the upcoming year is $500,000 to $600,000 as a result of the reduction in state funding. The magnitude of the reduction has forced us to review every program in our department. That review concluded we cannot maintain the overall quality of our athletics program without reducing the number of sports.”

The athletics department also expects to reduce its travel budget and keep some staff positions unfilled to address financial concerns.

Northern Iowa will honor scholarship commitments to all current and incoming baseball student-athletes. Those who wish to transfer will be allowed to do so after the 2009 season. Thirty-five student-athletes are on the baseball roster. Three full-time coaching positions will also be dropped.

The school dropped men’s and women’s swimming and men’s and women’s tennis in 2002, later reinstating both women’s programs. In 1983, the Panthers dropped field hockey. Men’s and women’s gymnastics were eliminated in 1981. The school added women’s soccer in 2000. While the school said the elimination of baseball was not “directly related” to Title IX, the federal law was a consideration in program assessment.