Men’s golf among three athletic programs cut at University of Akron

The men’s golf team at the University of Akron was among three programs cut at the university.

Proposed cuts to the University of Akron’s athletics program include the elimination of men’s golf, women’s tennis and men’s cross country.

The cuts also include salary reductions for “select coaches,” staff position eliminations and scholarship and operating reductions, according to a campus email from Director of Athletics Larry Williams.

The cuts total $4.4 million. That number represents 23% of the athletics department’s budget.

“We are very saddened that we have had to make this move, but it is important and necessary at this time,” Williams said in his letter to campus.

“This action aligns us with our Mid-American Conference peers in total number of sports and is part of our ongoing effort to realign University resources to ensure that we continue to invest in high-demand, high-quality academic programs and world-class facilities.”

David Trainor had been at the helm of the men’s golf team for eight seasons. The team opened what would be their final season in September with a fourth-place finish at their own Firestone Invitational. They finished the abbreviate season ranked No. 208 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.

Trainor posted the following note on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Akron will have 17 athletic teams moving forward, including seven men’s sports and 10 women’s sports. The elimination of three teams affects 23 male and nine female student-athletes, the university said in a news release.

Williams said he met virtually with those athletes ahead of the announcement.

“We understand that some may choose to leave Akron to continue in their sport at another university, and we have committed to offering them our full support throughout that process,” he said. “This is a difficult day for all of us. We have dedicated student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff who have embraced being a Zip and make tremendous contributions to campus life in class, in competition and in our greater community.”

This story will be updated. Golfweek’s Julie Williams contributed.