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Husker Athletics Reduces Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

By News Jun 19, 2020 | 5:40 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the pocket book for Nebraska Athletics.

Athletic Director Bill Moos announced several measures Friday to mitigate the anticipated financial impacts of the pandemic. Overall, the Athletic Department will reduce expenses by approximately 10-percent in Fiscal Year 2021 which begins July 1.

“In our deliberate planning for how to best address a decline in expected revenue, we attempted to institute measures that would minimize the impact on the student-athlete experience,” said Moos.

Among the cost-saving measures to be implemented:

  • A reduction in approximately 10% of Nebraska Athletics administrative positions across the Department
  • No merit increases for all Department employees in Fiscal Year 2021
  • No increases in all sports programs’ budgets for the upcoming year
  • Sports programs are encouraged to build a more regional non-conference away schedule, which will limit public exposures and allow for a reduction in travel costs
  • All administrative units across the Department have been asked to reduce budgets by 10%
  • All staff travel (excluding recruiting) will be greatly restricted over the coming year
  • A reduction in recurring capital expenditures
  • Summer programming for student-athletes will be limited in the Summer of 2021

“While many of these necessary changes are difficult, especially those impacting our employees, we hope that they will be the only ones necessary in the months ahead,” said Moos. “I am confident that we will weather the storm and come out stronger on the other side. I want to acknowledge the work and commitment of those employees who will no longer be with us and thank them for their service to Nebraska. We wish them all of the best in their future endeavors.”

Husker volleyball has already changed part of their non-conference schedule, dropping Texas and Stanford. Last week on Sports Nightly, coach John Cook said the Big Ten Conference schedule could change to being more regionally based as well.

For Nebraska football, all non-conference games are home this fall. Looking to the winter season, Husker men’s basketball has the Myrtle Beach Invitational, but all other non-conference games are at home besides one in Kansas City, Missouri.