UC Irvine cuts multiple sports teams

UC Irvine’s swimming and diving, rowing, and sailing teams are no more as a response to a tightening state budget, UCI officials announced Wednesday, saying the move would save the university close to $1 million.

With billions of dollars of cuts to the California school system in the budget signed Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state colleges are scrounging for fixes.

For UCI, about 130 athletes will be left without their sports, which Associate Athletics Director Bob Olson called, “pretty much the ultimate last resort.�

Coaches and athletes were informed of the decision Wednesday morning, many of them responding by asking how much money they would have to raise to continue their programs, Olson said.

“There’s not going to be a one-year fix for this. If they can raise enough money to ensure the sport for the next five years then we’d consider that,� he said, with the hurdle being that they would need all of the money up front.

UCI is trying to give students affected by the decision options.

UCI will honor any scholarships for the affected programs through the 2009-10 academic year and assist any student wishing to transfer in the hope of continuing an athletic career, officials said.

But student athletes may be high-and-dry if they’re looking for a local college to compete at in aquatic sports.

Jeff Hobbs, Orange Coast College communications director, said his college would love to take on extra athletes, but they have capped their growth as mandated by the state and would not be able to take the extra influx of students.

OCC has not had to cut entire athletics programs, but with the volatile economic situation, there aren’t any guarantees, Hobbs said.

“I don’t think the programs themselves are going to see any drastic cuts as of now, but that could change,� he said.

UCI has already had to resort to drastic measures.

“It’s the toughest decision an athletic director has to make,� Olson said.