McNeese State announced it will no longer have a men’s and women’s golf program after the spring season concludes.
The school said the decision is directly related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Laura and Delta on the university and the athletics program.
“Never, in the history of any college athletics program, has a university been forced to manage the effects of a deadly global pandemic, coupled with a direct hit from a strong category 4 hurricane and a second category 2 hurricane just six weeks later,” said athletic director and men’s basketball coach Heath Schroyer in a school release.
Schroyer said McNeese continues to support football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, softball, tennis and soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track and field.
There are nine athletes on the men’s golf team and 10 on the women’s.
“We will honor the scholarships for these student-athletes through the remainder of the academic year,” said Schroyer.
Women’s coach Mike Fluty will oversee both programs in the spring. Men’s coach Derek Plucienski recently was named coach at UTEP.
“This is a difficult day for McNeese athletics and this decision was not made lightly or in haste,” Schroyer said.
McNeese moved to remote classes in March and the spring season for all sports was canceled.
Football, soccer, cross country, track and field, golf and volleyball were canceled in the fall and will take place in the spring session of 2021.
“We are proud of our history in the golf programs and the student-athletes and coaches that have been associated with the two programs, and as a coach, I understand that this decision will impact the lives of our current golf team members, alumni and prospective recruits,” Schroyer said.