Stephen F. Austin eliminating golf programs, effective immediately

Stephen F. Austin State University announced Thursday it was cutting its men’s and women’s golf programs at the end of the academic year.

The decision was based on sustained departmental budget deficits and the anticipated financial impact of upcoming revenue-sharing requirements with Division I athletes, per the school.

In addition to men’s and women’s golf, beach volleyball and bowling are also being cut. The school will honor all scholarships at their existing levels to student-athletes who choose to stay at the university to finish their academic work and graduate. Student-athletes who wish to transfer to another institution to continue their athletic careers will have the full support and services of the SFA athletics administration to assist them in the transfer portal process.  

Michael McBroom, SFA’s director of athletics, said the moves are designed to strengthen the department’s financial position.

“Decisions like these are never easy, but they are made in the best interest of the athletic program and the university as a whole,” McBroom said in a release. “Over the past year, we have made significant progress in reducing annual athletics expenditures, especially in our travel costs. Unfortunately, those efforts have not been enough. In order for SFA Athletics to deliver the best possible championship experience for all of our student-athletes in the face of very real economic and facility challenges, we made the difficult decision to reduce the number of sports we sponsor.” 

This season, the men’s team compiled a 44-74 record and finished eight in the Southland Conference. The women went 14-104 and placed sixth in the conference tourney.