Kutztown has announced that it will discontinue its men’s soccer and men’s swimming programs, effective immediately. 

Kutztown President F. Javier Cevallos said the decision, made in the face of a challenging economic climate, is expected to save the university up to $150,000

“Our first priority is always to protect the core academic component of the campus,” Cevallos said. “This decision allows us to honor that priority while maintaining our athletics integrity and competitiveness. This move is ultimately an attempt to reduce costs in the current economy based on the anticipated budget.”

Kutztown officials made their decision after retaining a consulting firm to conduct a funding study on the intercollegiate athletics program. The study focused on six elements for each of the school’s 23 sports, including athletics success, attendance, academic success rate, fund-raising, facilities and media coverage. Athletics Director Greg Bamberger and Charles Woodard, vice president for student services and campus life, recommended that discontinuing men’s soccer and men’s swimming presented “the right combination of financial savings, Title IX proportionality and impact on the overall athletics program.”

“Although discontinuing long-running programs is difficult,” Bamberger said in a news release, “we are confident that this is the best decision at this time. Our immediate concern is to help the student-athletes directly affected by this decision.”

The university will honor current athletics scholarships for men’s soccer players and men’s swimmers who continue their academic endeavors at Kutztown.  The athletics administration will also assist student-athletes from the two programs who choose to continue their playing careers elsewhere. Thirty-two athletes (20 soccer, 12 swimming) would have had eligibility remaining in 2009-10.

Kutztown officials said no head coaching positions will be affected. Tim Flannery, head men’s and women’s swimming coach for the past 13 seasons, will remain on the staff as head women’s swimming coach. Otto Ormosi, part-time head men’s soccer coach for the past 10 seasons, retired earlier this year.

Immediate cost reductions will result from the already vacant men’s soccer coaching position and operating expenses. Savings are expected to be $100,000 in the first year and grow to $150,000 annually. 

Kutztown’s men’s soccer program began in 1971 and enjoyed success in its first decade, posting five winning seasons and advancing to the postseason three times. Since 1980, the program has posted three winning seasons and advanced to postseason play once. The Golden Bears resurged under Ormosi from 1999 until 2004, posting a cumulative record of 62-50, including five seasons of .500 or above. The program has struggled since, posting a cumulative record of 8-65-4 over the past four seasons, including a mark of 2-15-1 last season.

Men’s swimming was first sponsored during the 1970-71 season and produced 22 winning dual meet seasons. The program placed as high as 12th nationally twice (1977-78 and 1995-96), and peaked at third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship meet in 2003-04.  The Golden Bears were 6-3 last season in duals and placed eighth in the eight-team conference meet.

“Our men’s swimming and soccer programs have produced some successes over the past four decades both on and off the playing venues,” Bamberger said. “We have had many outstanding student-athletes come through those programs over the years, and they will always be a part of the Golden Bear family.

“We want all of our student-athletes to experience the opportunity to have academic and athletic success, including a chance to compete for a championship at some level,” Bamberger said. “Ultimately, we feel our 21 remaining programs have the resources to be competitive at least at the conference level and to contribute significantly to the quality of campus life.”