College News
San Francisco Discontinues Men's and Women's Programs
by Rhiannon Potkey, 8 April 2024
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Two more NCAA Division I programs will no longer be offering tennis.
The University of San Francisco announced last Friday that its men’s and women’s tennis programs will be discontinued at the conclusion of the current season.
University officials cited the need to “be more efficient and implement cost savings across campus due to enrollment shortfalls.” They said “unprecedented changes” in college athletics at the national level, which includes NIL and could potentially include student-athlete employment, forced them to adapt to “provide the best experience for all their student-athletes.”
“USF’s tennis programs have represented the university exceedingly well over many decades,” USF Athletic Director Larry Williams and Vice President of Business and Finance Charlie Cross wrote. “Our campus community and alumni body are proud of the current team and their hard work, commitment, and achievements in Division I and West Coast Conference competition.”
USF’s tennis programs include 16 players and four coaches and require “in excess of $1 million” to operate annually, according to Williams. The university said it has attempted to raise funds for the USF tennis programs for many years, but had limited success and “the amount raised would be a fraction of what would be necessary to fund and sustain the programs.”
The current players may opt to remain at USF with any scholarship commitments honored, or pursue opportunities at other universities. The men’s team has no Americans on the roster. The women’s team has three Americans.
Men’s coach JT Sundling, a former two-time NCAA team champion at USC, is in his third season leading USF. Women’s head coach Peter Bartlett is in his 26th season with the Dons.
"Personally, I am very sorry that our players and coaches received this news today," Williams said. "They did not expect their USF careers to be shortened in this way. We are doing everything we can to assist them as they chart their next steps and plan for their futures."
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About Rhiannon Potkey
Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two
decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many
sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories.
Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national
events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches.
Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You
can reach Rhiannon by email at
[email protected].
