Texas Athletics announces department budget cuts, layoffs amid pandemic
Thirty-five staff members were laid off and nearly 300 took salary reductions in the wake of sports cancellations.
By Marcus Krum
12:49 PM on Sep 1, 2020 CDT
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte announced several major budget cuts, including the layoff of 35 staff members, in his weekly “Forty Acres Insider” newsletter Tuesday.
Del Conte said in the newsletter that despite savings measures taken at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, personnel actions were still necessary. Beginning Tuesday through Aug. 31, 2021, 26 contracted coaches and administrators are taking temporary salary reductions. Beginning Oct. 16 through Aug. 31, 2021, 273 staff members will take temporary salary reductions. Additionally, 35 staff members were laid off and 35 vacant positions were permanently eliminated.
“None of it has been easy, and we recognize the impact it’s had on so many and are deeply sorry for that,” Del Conte said in the newsletter. “But we also know it’s our responsibility to position Texas Athletics to remain solvent, steady and able to perform at the highest level.”
Del Conte said the top priority of the athletics department is to ensure the health and welfare of the student-athletes, and that these measures were required “to stabilize the financial health of the department.”
These actions come after all sports seasons in March 2020 were ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The men’s and women’s basketball and swimming and diving seasons were ended just before the NCAA Championships, and the softball, baseball, rowing, golf and tennis seasons were canceled mid-season.
“Although this is an extremely difficult time for our department, we fully expect to bounce back from this experience stronger and positioned well to continue to provide the best student-athlete experience in the country and strive to compete for Big 12 and National Championships in all of our 20 sports programs,” Del Conte said.
Thirty-five staff members were laid off and nearly 300 took salary reductions in the wake of sports cancellations.
By Marcus Krum
12:49 PM on Sep 1, 2020 CDT
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte announced several major budget cuts, including the layoff of 35 staff members, in his weekly “Forty Acres Insider” newsletter Tuesday.
Del Conte said in the newsletter that despite savings measures taken at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, personnel actions were still necessary. Beginning Tuesday through Aug. 31, 2021, 26 contracted coaches and administrators are taking temporary salary reductions. Beginning Oct. 16 through Aug. 31, 2021, 273 staff members will take temporary salary reductions. Additionally, 35 staff members were laid off and 35 vacant positions were permanently eliminated.
“None of it has been easy, and we recognize the impact it’s had on so many and are deeply sorry for that,” Del Conte said in the newsletter. “But we also know it’s our responsibility to position Texas Athletics to remain solvent, steady and able to perform at the highest level.”
Del Conte said the top priority of the athletics department is to ensure the health and welfare of the student-athletes, and that these measures were required “to stabilize the financial health of the department.”
These actions come after all sports seasons in March 2020 were ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The men’s and women’s basketball and swimming and diving seasons were ended just before the NCAA Championships, and the softball, baseball, rowing, golf and tennis seasons were canceled mid-season.
“Although this is an extremely difficult time for our department, we fully expect to bounce back from this experience stronger and positioned well to continue to provide the best student-athlete experience in the country and strive to compete for Big 12 and National Championships in all of our 20 sports programs,” Del Conte said.
Texas Athletics announces department budget cuts, layoffs amid pandemic
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte announced several major budget cuts, including the layoff of 35 staff members, in his weekly “Forty Acres Insider”...
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