Univ. Of Memphis Cuts 24 Positions, Lays Off 11 Staffers To Trim Costs, Create New Roles

The Univ. of Memphis has "notified 11 athletic department employees their jobs are being eliminated as part of a department-wide restructuring to reduce expenses," according to Jason Smith of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. UM VP/Communications & Public Relations Linda Bonnin on Friday wrote in an e-mail that the school "has cut a total of 24 athletic department positions, which includes the 11 employees and unfilled full-time and temporary positions." She added that some of the cost savings expected to come from the cuts will allow the UM to "create six new athletics positions." The staff directory on the school's athletic department website as of late Friday "reflected almost 150 employees." The department entered the '13-14 fiscal year with a $36.5M budget, which was "unchanged from last year." About $14M of that, or 38%, "was for salaries and benefits." The athletic cuts "come as the university is making broader cuts to plug a $20.9 million deficit" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 11/16).