Dear Bruce,
After months of exhaustive consideration and debate, fraught with both anguish and sadness, University President Wallace Loh today accepted recommendations from the President’s Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and myself, to “discontinue six athletic programs (eight teams), effective July 1, 2012: men’s cross-country, men’s indoor track and outdoor track; men’s swimming and diving; men’s tennis; women’s acrobatics and tumbling; women’s swimming and diving; and women’s water polo.
Without doubt, taking this difficult action is the right thing to do for the future of Maryland Athletics. That, however, is little comfort to the extraordinary people who have dedicated so much of their lives to competing and coaching in their chosen sport. This has been a deeply emotional and painful chapter in all our lives. I have met with every student-athlete involved and can say with confidence that they are among the most outstanding young people I know.
All affected students will retain their scholarships through graduation, and all coaching contracts will be honored. For those students who wish to transfer, all due assistance will be provided.
President Loh also accepted my recommendation to give these student-athletes the opportunity to save their programs through fundraising efforts. The teams, coaches and their supporters asked for this opportunity. We want to give them that chance. So, I am committing two, full-time, senior development staff members to lend their invaluable expertise to this worthy effort.
I promise to keep you apprised of this fundraising campaign in the months to come.
Given the lasting impact this decision will have on our University and our community, I invite you to review Dr. Loh’s decision, which is available at the link below:
Sincerely,
Kevin B. Anderson
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
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