Minnesota Dropping Men's Track, Gymnastics, Tennis Programs

MINNEAPOLIS: Minnesota is dropping mens indoor and outdoor track and field, gymnastics and tennis because of budget concerns brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

Minnesota President Joan Gabel and athletic director Mark Coyle said Thursday that the athletic department is facing a projected loss of $75 in revenue for this fiscal year following the Big Tens decision to postpone fall sports.

School officials said the elimination of the sports will be effective at the completion of their 2020-21 competition seasons, which the teams will play if health and safety precautions allow.

The athletic department is eliminating eight other positions in addition to those that will be cut because of the four programs being discontinued. School officials said thats part of a personnel cost-reduction that should save $1.3 million this fiscal year.

The 10% salary reductions that Coyle, football coach P.J. Fleck, mens volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, mens hockey coach Bob Motzko, mens basketball coach Richard Pitino and womens basketball coach Lindsay Whalen had accepted already will now be extended through the entire fiscal year. That is expected to save about $1.2 million.