{"id":439372,"date":"2020-07-09T11:35:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T18:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=439372"},"modified":"2020-07-09T21:40:21","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T04:40:21","slug":"dartmouth-cuts-mens-womens-swimming-programs-amid-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/dartmouth-cuts-mens-womens-swimming-programs-amid-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Dartmouth Cuts Men’s, Women’s Swimming Programs; Coach ‘Completely Blindsided’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dartmouth announced on Thursday that it will eliminate five varsity athletic, and several staff positions, including men’s and women’s swimming.<\/p>\n

Dartmouth concluded the change would give school more flexibility in admissions, reducing the number of recruited athletes in incoming classes by 10%. The move also contributes to the steps Dartmouth is taking to address budget challenges, including a projected $150 million financial deficit brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

In addition to swimming, Dartmouth cut men’s and women’s golf, and men’s lightweight rowing, dropping to 30 the number of varsity teams. A total of about 110 student-athletes participate on these five teams.<\/p>\n

Here are the swimmers:<\/p>\n

2020-21 Women’s Swimming & Diving <\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
2020-21 Men’s Swimming & Diving<\/a><\/div>\n

“I can assure you that these decisions were made with great care and with the long-term interests of the learning experience provided by Dartmouth Athletics front and center,” President Philip J. Hanlon<\/strong> said in an email to faculty, students and staff.<\/p>\n

President Hanlon’s decision came after extensive consultation with Harry Sheehy<\/strong>, director of athletics and recreation.<\/p>\n

“Harry and I realize that on top of what has already been a uniquely challenging year, this is deeply disappointing news,” he wrote. “I remain fully committed to Dartmouth Athletics and am confident that the steps outlined here will make it a leaner but stronger program.”<\/p>\n

Dartmouth swimming coach James F. Holder told Swimming World<\/em> the decision was a jolting surprise.<\/p>\n

“Completely blindsided by this decision,” he said. “Not sure if the college understands all the swimming and diving brings to the college and the community at large. It is a very disappointing decision by Phil Hanlon and Harry Sheehy.”<\/p>\n

According to Dartmouth, the pandemic and the resulting financial challenges hastened the athletics decision, with the department\u2014and all departments, divisions, and schools at Dartmouth\u2014facing financial cutbacks to reduce the projected deficit by the end of the new fiscal year, in June 2021. Elimination of the teams, closing the country club, and an administrative restructuring underway in athletics are projected to save more than $2 million.<\/p>\n

The teams will be suspended immediately and jobs for 15 staff, including eight coaching positions, will end, the school announced.<\/p>\n

Hanlon wrote that “with 35 varsity teams and the smallest enrollment within the Ivy League, athletic recruitment at Dartmouth has begun to impact our ability to achieve the right balance between applicants who are accomplished in athletics and applicants who excel in other pursuits. To achieve greater flexibility in shaping the incoming class, I asked Harry to reduce the number of recruited athletes in each entering class by 10%.”<\/p>\n

“This will maintain the strength of varsity athletics into the future, instead of diluting the talent and competitive experience of all teams. While the elimination of teams is the most painful option, I agree that this approach is in the best long-term interest of both athletics and Dartmouth.”<\/p>\n

Four-year colleges have eliminated some 171 athletic teams because of budgetary cuts or school closures associated with the coronavirus pandemic (51 in Division I, 56 in Division II, 52 in Division III and 12 in NAIA). The list of aquatic sports dropped, based on research by the Associated Press<\/a>, through July 8 (x-denotes school closure; y-effective in 2021):<\/p>\n

DIVISION I<\/strong><\/p>\n