Oklahoma State AD Mike Holder said that the athletic department is "undergoing immediate cuts in its personnel and operating budget," according to Frank Bonner II of the TULSA WORLD. The pandemic has caused OSU to "institute many budget-cutting measures to help eliminate an estimated $13 million from the 2020-21 budget." The furloughs, salary reductions and layoffs will "affect about 232 of the department's 241 employees." Holder, along with every OSU head coach, was "among the 16 contractual employees who have voluntarily agreed to pay cuts." The department also "announced a hiring freeze that will keep nine positions vacant." Ten employees were laid off yesterday, and 66 will "start the furlough program Sept. 16, while 151 employees will have salary reductions beginning this month." The department's highest-paid employees will "take the biggest pay cuts, which range from 2.5% to 25%" (TULSA WORLD, 9/10). In Oklahoma City, Scott Wright notes OSU "remains committed to protecting all student-athlete scholarships and sport programs." Holder said, "These cuts don't solve the problem. We are still facing a budget deficit estimated to be around $30 million, which may require additional measures in the coming months" (OKLAHOMAN, 9/10).
