July 1 - Moving Day 2024

[crixus]

So, the athletic department budget issues with in the Cal State University system aren't just confined to Somona... (the Cal Poly schools - SLO, Pomona and Humboldt - are part of the Cal State system).

Yes, I know they're part of the Cal State system. I'm an alum of a Cal State University system school (San Jose State University). And I have a feeling our athletic department might be on the chopping block with budget cuts coming too.

[ctrabs74]

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has announced they are cutting several teams from their athletic programs. Budget issues are being cited by the University as the reason. Cal Poly is projecting a $24.2 million budget reduction University-wide next year. Cal Poly SLO will eliminate its mens and womens swim and dive teams. The coaching positions will end in April. Additionally Cal Poly's other athletic teams may be facing reductions in budgets. Cal Poly competes in the Big West Conference for all sports except football and wrestling.

So, the athletic department budget issues with in the Cal State University system aren't just confined to Somona... (the Cal Poly schools - SLO, Pomona and Humboldt - are part of the Cal State system).

[crixus]

San Francisco State is cutting its baseball, men’s soccer and women’s indoor track and field teams. The teams will end on July 1. SFSU competes in the D2 California Collegiate Athletic Association and is cutting its University budget by $25 million.

[crixus]

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has announced they are cutting several teams from their athletic programs. Budget issues are being cited by the University as the reason. Cal Poly is projecting a $24.2 million budget reduction University-wide next year. Cal Poly SLO will eliminate its mens and womens swim and dive teams. The coaching positions will end in April. Additionally Cal Poly's other athletic teams may be facing reductions in budgets. Cal Poly competes in the Big West Conference for all sports except football and wrestling.

[cwfenn]

This post isn't about relocations or closings, but a topic that I've always found interesting- which teams have never made the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Well, here is a site that covers exactly that. On twitter- https://x.com/NMTC_Hoops or you can go to their spreadsheet.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...ew?pli=1#gid=0

Merrimack is already in its second conference after moving up to D1.

Also, UC San Diego might be a bracket buster…they’re legit.

[laker]

This post isn't about relocations or closings, but a topic that I've always found interesting- which teams have never made the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Well, here is a site that covers exactly that. On twitter- https://x.com/NMTC_Hoops or you can go to their spreadsheet.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...ew?pli=1#gid=0

[Inkblot]

I don't believe this has been mentioned here yet: the ECC will begin sponsorship of field hockey in 2026 with Dominican (NY) as an affiliate. https://mercyathletics.com/news/2025...hip-sport.aspx


[I almost wrote Dominican without the (NY), but then I remembered that Dominican (CA) men's and women's lacrosse are affiliated with the Peach Belt and Mountain East...]

[Tech Boys]

Missed one: Felician and Bridgeport joining the NE10 in swimming & diving

https://northeast10.org/news/2024/11...ng-diving.aspx

Got that one. Felician women joined this year.

[Finchwidget]

Missed one: Felician and Bridgeport joining the NE10 in swimming & diving

https://northeast10.org/news/2024/11...ng-diving.aspx

[Tech Boys]

Some new D2 affiliate memberships/sport offerings for Tech Boys:

https://rmacsports.org/news/2025/1/6...-lacrosse.aspx

Northwest Nazarene is elevating their club men's lacrosse team to varsity status, and will compete as an RMAC affiliate in 2025-26.

https://bartonbulldogs.com/news/2024...key-coach.aspx

Barton is adding field hockey, and will compete as a SAC affiliate in 2025-26

https://pointparksports.com/news/202...-lacrosse.aspx

Point Park is joining the G-MAC as an affiliate for men's lacrosse

Thanks, I thought I had all those recorded. Missed on Point Park.

[Finchwidget]

Some new D2 affiliate memberships/sport offerings for Tech Boys:

https://rmacsports.org/news/2025/1/6...-lacrosse.aspx

Northwest Nazarene is elevating their club men's lacrosse team to varsity status, and will compete as an RMAC affiliate in 2025-26.

https://bartonbulldogs.com/news/2024...key-coach.aspx

Barton is adding field hockey, and will compete as a SAC affiliate in 2025-26

https://pointparksports.com/news/202...-lacrosse.aspx

Point Park is joining the G-MAC as an affiliate for men's lacrosse

[ctrabs74]

It looks like the WAC is on the verge of extinction...

Brett McMurphy is reporting that Utah Valley and California Baptist may be getting an invite to join the Big West:

https://x.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1894160770218209321

More details from KSL-TV, Salt Lake City...

If this goes forward, then the WAC is left with five schools: Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, UT-Arlington, Utah Tech )formerly Dixie State) and Southern Utah. Of the five, only UT-Arlington doesn't sponsor football.

It would not shock me if Utah Tech and Southern Utah eventually end up in the Big West as well with the three Texas schools likely landing in the Southland (to join the other Texas and Louisiana non-HBCU FCS programs). I'll have some thoughts on this in a little bit...

I'm starting to see rumors that Utah Tech and Southern Utah are considering joining the Summit League. Unfortunately, the article that cites this rumor is behind a paywall, but that rumor has been gaining traction in the past day or two.

EDIT: Another news outlet is reporting the same Utah Tech/Southern Utah rumor (but at least it's not behind a paywall).

[SW_Mustang]

A little bit of turmoil across the border - Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario is shutting down 41 programs and closing the Perth campus due to facing a $60 million budget shortfall that's expected to grow to $93 million(!) next year.

Algonquin College approves suspension of 41 programs | Ottawa Citizen

Their varsity sports teams compete at the provincial level in the OCAA - and the college does serve students from Upstate New York.

[Bballfan]

Findlay is no longer pursuing Bluffton University. Bluffton University and University of Findlay merger will not proceed | Bluffton Icon

Despite the propaganda in this article, Bluffton as an institution is not in a good place. Their president also resigned the same day this all went down. Ohio has over 100 post-secondary institutions. That's a crazy number, and over 33% of them are state schools and like in California some of the state schools are struggling and cutting some sports.

[Finchwidget]

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/new...ii-transition/

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/new...all-build-new/

Bombshells from the Texarkana Gazette. The articles are paywalled, but I shelled out the $1 so you don't have to. In short, Texas A&M-Texarkana:

• started the D2 transition process internally around the end of last year
• has allegedly applied to transition to D2 prior to the February 1st deadline (which I'm skeptical of, because as Tech Boys pointed out, there weren't any new names on the D2 February Membership Committee report)
• originially applied to join the GAC (no word on what conference they're currently attempting to join)
• is planning to start a football program as well, in addition to the 10 or so other sports they're planning to add

Maybe the craziest thing about all of this is that most of those two articles have been redacted on request from TAMUT-- there was originally more in-depth discussion in there about the football team, but it was removed on request from the university, since they're apparently still finalizing the details about it. Still though, that's a lot of information still there. Clearly a situation worth monitoring over the next few months.