EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The University of Texas at El Paso has ended its Women’s tennis program.
The announcement was made Friday by UTEP’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter, however, the decision was made by the UTEP Athletics Executive Team, who recommended the decision to UTEP President Heather Wilson.
According to Senter, the decision wasn’t easy, but had to be made as college athletic programs are facing hardships with facility rental fees, costs of scholarships, and operating budgets escalating.
“We made this decision following a thoughtful analysis and with a heavy heart,” Senter said. “Our women’s tennis student-athletes have represented the University in a first-class manner for over 40 years and have often set the standard for academic achievement among all our sports programs. We are so grateful to head coach Ivan Fernandez and associate head coach Joanna Furdyna for all the hard work that they have put in leading this program and mentoring our student-athletes.”
Furthermore, UTEP added that another factor that influenced its decision was the fact that the University does not have an on-campus tennis facility and building one would be too expensive and would require a more extensive donor base.
Regarding the question of whether fundraising could save the program, UTEP said no, saying that it would be too much money and too challenging.
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Senter said UTEP will now focus its resources on its remaining 16 sports programs, which he believes will create more opportunities for female student-athletes in other programs.
UTEP added that scholarship commitments will be honored for any women’s tennis student-athletes in the program who choose to stay at UTEP. And will support athletes who decided to transfer to other universities to play tennis.
Coaches will reportedly remain employed by the athletic department through the duration of their contract and will receive help in finding a new job, UTEP said.
Following the discontinuation of women’s tennis, UTEP Athletics will sponsor the NCAA-mandated FBS minimum of 16 sports programs.
UTEP’s women’s tennis program ran for 40 years following its start during the 1983-84 season.
Home matches were played at the El Paso Tennis & Swim Club, which is located at 2510 North St. Vrain Street, near the UTEP campus.
According to the University, the last time UTEP ended a sports program was in May of 1999 when it discontinued men’s tennis.
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