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News
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Michael D. Chason |
IMMEDIATE JULY 15, 2008
ABAC Discontinues Basketball Programs
TIFTON—In an
effort to make the best use of limited resources and to give a boost to its six
other intercollegiate sports, President David Bridges announced today that
“This was an extremely difficult decision,” Bridges said. “Basketball, particularly on the men’s side, has a long tradition at the college. This decision came about after a lot of input from faculty, staff, students, alumni, Foundation trustees, and friends of the college.”
Bridges said the decision was made after analyzing the sharply rising costs of maintaining two competitive basketball programs as well as the fact that both coaching positions are now vacant with the resignations of Todd Sheppard as the men’s basketball coach and Julie Conner as the women’s coach.
“Travel, lodging, food, all these costs are going up dramatically,” Bridges said. “Right now, I’m looking at energy costs alone that could be 50 percent higher on this campus at this time next year.”
Bridges said the college wanted to be “more than competitive” in the remaining sports of baseball, softball, golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and women’s soccer. As an example, ABAC had the top women’s tennis player in the nation last year in freshman Monika Lalewicz.
“We had eight intercollegiate sports programs, and the cost to maintain those programs is on the rise,” Bridges said. “The College simply can’t remain competitive in eight sports. Funds saved from discontinuing basketball will be redirected to strengthening other intercollegiate sports at ABAC. We want to once again be in a situation to win national championships.”
Bridges also wants more emphasis on the ABAC intramural sports program, which is open to all students as a chance to engage in athletic activities.
ABAC has also been affected by the recent statewide five percent budget reduction, which could carve nearly $900,000 out of the 2008-09 ABAC budget. Bridges emphasized that 22 vacant positions at ABAC are frozen at the present time, including 13 from the academic side of the college.
The primary duties of the two coaching positions involved teaching in the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
“By not filling these two faculty positions in physical education, we are able to offset some of the decrease in state dollars,” Bridges said.
In a period of 24
hours in May, Sheppard relocated to the private sector, and Conner took a
teaching/coaching position at her alma mater,
“We are going to lose some of these other unfilled positions as well,” Bridges said. “We have to manage all available resources to advance academic initiatives.”
Athletics Director Alan Kramer said all ABAC basketball players who have been awarded scholarships for the 2008-09 year who choose to stay at ABAC will receive those funds as long as they meet the terms of their agreements at the college for the fall and spring semesters.
“We are granting these student athletes their release so they can choose to play at another college,” Kramer said. “If they decide to stay at ABAC, we will honor their scholarships for the 2008-09 year.”
Kramer will also return to his position as men’s and women’s tennis coach at ABAC.
“The College is in a period of great change right now,” Bridges said. “We launched two new Bachelor’s degree programs in January, and we’ll start two more in August. We have to manage our academic resources as carefully as possible.”
Classes begin Aug. 18 for the fall semester at ABAC.
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