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Appalachian State Confronts Budget Cuts, Eliminates Three Sports Programs

Image credit: Marie Freeman, courtesy Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University is eliminating three of its sports programs, as pandemic-related budget cuts are forcing the school to reevaluate its athletics offerings. 

Men's soccer, men's tennis, and men's indoor track and field programs are all being discontinued at App State, effective immediately.

This follows a review of the school's sports offerings in response to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department is facing a 20 percent overall budget reduction for the coming fiscal year, which amounts to about $5 million. 

Scholarships for incoming and returning student-athletes will be honored, and the school has promised support to those who would like to transfer elsewhere.

But current athletics staff openings will not be filled, and the department is exploring additional personnel changes.

Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said in a news release that the long-term sustainability of App State sports programs is the primary concern.

Gillin points out that since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision, App State has sponsored the most sports in the Sun Belt. He says the reductions will bring the school in line with most of its peer institutions.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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