At the end of June, the Washington State University athletic department will likely close out the 2017 fiscal year with a budget deficit of $10.6 million, making this the fourth-consecutive year it has finished more than $10 million in the red.
University officials say this grim financial situation resulted from a calculated gamble to upgrade athletic facilities and coaching talent at WSU.
But the deficit spending must stop, officials say, and WSU has devised a plan to do that by 2021.
The recovery plan leans heavily on institutional support, increases in contributions, maximizing gate revenue from football and basketball, and perhaps, in the near future, beer sales at Martin Stadium and a student fee.