ANNOUNCED: Akron to Cut Men's Cross Country Program

Earlier today, University of Akron Athletic Director Larry Williams announced in a statement that the university was cutting three athletic programs at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The three athletic programs that are being cut are men's golf, women's tennis and men's cross country.

The decision to eliminate these sports is expected to save the University of Akron approximately $4.4 million according to the press release.

In a separate update, the University of Akron noted that their decision to cut the three athletic programs stems from an effort to "emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that financially stabilizes the institution".

It should be noted that women's cross country, women's track and field, and men's track and field were not listed among the programs being cut and are expected to remain.

The University of Akron men's cross country team reached a major milestone this past fall when Marc Migliozzi qualified for the 2019 NCAA Cross Country National Championships. Migliozzi, who will finish the rest of his athletic eligibility at the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer, was the first individual male cross country national qualifier in program history.