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Akron Drops Three Sports in Cost-Cutting Pandemic Move

With its athletic budget being stretched and future funding uncertain, Akron dropped three sports on Thursday in a cost-cutting move necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ohio school announced it will discontinue men’s cross-country and golf and women’s tennis at the end of the academic year. Akron plans to reduce financial support to the athletic department by approximately 23% ($4.4 million), painful actions necessitated by the virus outbreak.

“These decisions are very difficult but they are important and necessary at this time,” Akron athletic director Larry Williams said. “This action aligns us with our Mid-American Conference peers in the total number of sports and is part of the ongoing effort to redesign the University to ensure that UA continues to invest in high-demand, high-quality academic programs.