Fairfield University joins schools like St. John’s, University of Massachusetts, and Howard University that have eliminated sports programs because of budget issues. With the costs of maintaining hockey and football programs escalating, the state of Connecticut considering drastic cuts in aid programs for Connecticut college students, and the uncertainty in the national economy, Fairfield decided to eliminate hockey and football beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year. The elimination of both programs will result in annual savings of approximately $570,000, not including athletic grants-in-aid. The funds will be reallocated to support the university’s student financial aid program.

Fairfield University President Aloysius P. Kelley called the decision a difficult one, yet necessary not only to strengthen the financial aid program but to maintain the quality of the remaining 19 varsity programs. (It currently costs the school approximately $7 million to run all of its sports teams.) The university ranks the importance of its sports in a tier format: Hockey and football are tier three and four, while men’s and women’s basketball are tier one. The university made a commitment six years ago to strengthen its athletic programs by providing more support for personnel, operations, and grants-in-aid budgets. The schools also provided capital funds for construction of the Walsh Athletic Center, University Field, Lessing Field, and the University Softball Diamond.