ASU drops the nuke on men's wrestling, swimming, and tennis

Oregon recently cut it's wrestling program in favor of baseball. The newest wave of cuts comes from the campus of Arizona State, where Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love and by ASU President Michael Crow have decided to end men's wrestling, swimming, and tennis in order to cut costs. 

AZCentral.com has the full story. 

Men's diving is being retained so the number of ASU sports drops from 22 to 20. Varsity sports still being funded are football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track, women's tennis, women's swimming/diving, men's diving, women's volleyball, women's gymnastics, women's soccer and women's water polo.

"The profile or our operations budget and donation base does not lend itself to the sponsorship of 22 athletic teams," Love said. "While our revenue streams are achieving a positive trajectory, they are simply not keeping pace with the current size and scope of the department."

Six full-time coaching positions will be eliminated. Mike Chasson is expected to remain as women's swim coach after previously coaching both teams. Wrestling coach Thom Ortiz and men's tennis coach Lou Belken will be paid through November.

As many as 70 athletes are affected by the decision. They will have the option to remain at ASU with their scholarship honored or to be released from their letter of intent for transfer.

The ASU athletic department annual operating budget is $38-40 million. The department has been slightly in the black in recent years but facing mounting costs.