A source who has asked to remain anonymous because of their connection to the University has told us that the University of Maryland is expected to cut their swimming program. The decision is not final, but the recommendation to cut swimming has been sent to the university president for approval.
Maryland would become the 2nd ACC swimming program (3rd if you count future ACC member Syracuse) to be cut within a 5-year period. The Clemson Swimming programs will be phased out after this season.
We contacted Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Andreson for comment, and he responded that “The President’s Commission on ICA (intercollegiate athletics) is currently reviewing the financials and the future of the athletic department” and that “it would be premature to comment on any program at this time”.
This story comes on the heels of a report by the Washington Post that states that the Maryland Athletics Department is projected to lose $4.7 million this year, with more defecits to come.
The Washington Post goes on to point out that Maryland has 4 more varsity athletics programs than the ACC average (27 in total), but still spends signficantly less per athlete ($67,390) than any other school in the ACC. When you are running a program with lower per-athlete costs than your peers, then it’s hard to find many places to improve spending efficiencies aside from simply cutting programs.
Maryland has a phenomenal facility on campus that is part of their Campus Recreation Services Department. It includes a 25 yard instructional pool and a 50-meter competition pool, with 1,200 spectator seating.
The Maryland roster currently has 26 women and 24 men. This is not expected to be the only cut made by Maryland in this process. The Maryland women finished 22nd at the NCAA Championships last year.
More to come as details continue to emerge.
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful article.
Thanks for supplying this info.
This sucks. Not sure how they think this saves money? Are they going to get a refund on the pool? The scholarships cost vertually nothing and travel is relatively cheaper then flying a losing football team all over the country!
I feel for all the swimmers at UMD. I’m a Mom of a Clemson swimmer who at the time signed early in the fall of 2009. Then to find out April 30th 2010( last day to sign with anyone else) ON FACEBOOK that the team was phasing out. I know one of her teammates transferred to UMD this fall because he wanted to continue to swim. Such a shame what they’re doing to the amazing sport. Good Luck Maryland!!! If it doesn’t work out 2 teams at ACC’s will be saying goodbye :((
Terp12, club teams are in no way the same as a Division I Varsity level sport, are you kidding me?
Best of luck to everyone though, cuts are horrible and I hate to see this happening so rampantly!
hey just a shout out to all my fella swimmers, i was in arizona state swimming right when the AD announced that swimming and other sports would be cut, this a hard thing to go through i can imagine how everyone feeling right now, all i can say to you, DONT be afraid to speak your mind out there many things that are rather hidden to not to show the real reason for the cut, speak your minds out ASK hard questions and you will fish out the truth … best of luck to all of you …
This is an absolute disgrace. Many newspapers have also reported that the University continues to pay retired basketball coach Gary Williams $400K annually to be a fundraiser. How can these administrators sleep at night…….
Terp 12: No offense to your “club”, I am sure you have great camaraderie and have a good time 3-4 months out of the year, but that facility was built to provide world class training and competition. The ACC is regarded as one of the elite conferences in the country the fact that you have an AD who publicly vowed a few years ago to have the most sports teams in the ACC during a time when most public universities are struggling to keep up their services, clearly speaks to the administration’s inability to manage their department. Maryland is better than that Terp 12 and you should expect better. The budget shortfall is a direct result of the AD’s mismanagement,… Read more »
Maryland did NOT win the Eastern Title last year. Check your stats. They placed 3rd and did not receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships (Indiana). I am pretty unhappy about this result of cutting the aquatic programs. 2005 was the first year that the program was started at UMD. Coach Salyer has done an amazing with the program and if given a couple more years it would be at the top of the conference.
Indiana and Michigan are its top two teams that UMD faces. I know Indiana doesn’t have nearly the budget or the scholarships that Michigan does (which I know is DI fully funded). Its a shame to see this sport cut after only 5 (soon… Read more »