IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa is ending four varsity sports programs.
In an open letter posted to the athletics department website, Iowa President Bruce Harreld and Athletics Director Gary Barta say revenue lost during the COVID-19 pandemic means men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s gymnastics, and men's tennis, are being discontinued at the end of this school year.
They say the Big Ten Conference’s postponement of fall sports--including football--will cost the department $100 million, and cause an overall deficit between $60 million and $75 million dollars this fiscal year.
The school says the teams being cut can compete in their upcoming 2020-21 seasons, should circumstances surrounding COVID-19 permit.
They also say all existing scholarships will be honored through graduation for student-athletes who stay at Iowa, and that the contracts of affected coaches will be honored.