On Tuesday, January 23rd, Loyola Marymount University Athletic Director Craig Pintens cut 6 sports teams, upending the lives of 118 student-athletes, their coaches, and a number of incoming recruits who had their hearts set on becoming Lions themselves.

 

The program cuts, which will reduce the University’s student-athlete population by over 25 percent, were based on a singular and unilateral decision by AD Pintens without input from student-athletes, coaches, or the Board of Trustees among other key stakeholders.

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The 6 cut programs are as follows:

 

men's cross country

men's track and field

women's track and field

men's rowing

women's rowing

women's swimming

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The athletic director’s surprise decision is devastating for many reasons. Freshmen that were just becoming acclimated on campus now have to restart their college search all over again if they want to remain a Division-I athlete. And the many high school seniors who committed to LMU are now left scrambling to figure out what to do next after rejecting offers from other institutions. 

 

In his “Community Message” announcing his decision, AD Pintens called the decision “necessary,” despite acknowledging that the decision was not made over budget concerns and that no amount of fundraising could change his mind. AD Pintens’ decision is preemptive in nature and based solely on his opinion of what he thinks may happen across the NCAA landscape years down the line and at the expense of the student-athletes he claims to care about so much. 

 

5 of the 6 programs AD Pintens kicked off the Bluff were led by female coaches, including the Men’s Track/Cross Country coach, who in her first season led the team to their highest regional finish in program history, defeating schools from the very power conferences that AD Pintens aspires to emulate.

 

How can you help?

 

You can start by filling out our pledge form. Join the movement for reinstatement of all 6 teams, and let your voice be the force that propels LMU back towards its commitment to excellence, diversity, and the unwavering support of all who call this university home. Together, we will Save LMU Sports.

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