Univ. of Louisville AD Vince Tyra announced plans to "furlough as many as 45 athletic department employees for a minimum of 60 days," which could "help close the gap" of a $15M athletics shortfall from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Cameron Teague Robinson of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Tyra said that UL can "extend the furlough or end it earlier, however they decide." Tyra also announced 40 additional positions "were cut," and those positions included openings that "would not be filled and around 30 people who were laid off, but will have their contracts honored through June 30." Robinson notes UL became one of the first Power Five schools to "make significant personnel cuts." An athletic department of 325 workers "cut just over a quarter of its staffing." In addition to personnel reductions, staff members "who are still on board will have pay cuts," as those who make less than $100,000 are taking a 2% pay cut in FY '21, while those who make more than $100,000 are "asked to take a 4% pay cut." With the exception of the head coaches who already agreed to a pay cut, "no coaching staffs were affected by the cuts." Tyra said that with the previously announced changes and yesterday's announcement, the reductions "will save" UL $5M. Tyra said that cutting sports was "never an option when looking at the budget" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 4/23).
HISTORIC DECISIONS: In Louisville, Eric Crawford wrote UL's moves "were the most sweeping yet announced by a major athletic department in response to the COVID-19 situation." Tyra has been in contact with many ADs around the country, "seeking advice on making these kinds of moves." Rarely have major athletic departments "had to undergo this level of belt-tightening." During attempts to determine the virus' impact on next year's athletic budget, Tyra said that the department's leadership "looked particularly at football, and basketball to some degree," but they even "had to consider that the department is losing money right now every day that licensed merchandise can't be sold." Tyra said, "We know that our contracts with Learfield, CLC, all the ones around marketing rights, nobody can get to retail and buy those things today." He added, "They're shut down. There's losses occurring today. When people can't buy licensed product today, we're already feeling it. We're trying to take all that into context" (WDRB.com, 4/22).
