MSUB SPORTS – As part of the university-wide response to a $4.4 million shortfall in the projected budget for the 2015-16 academic year, the Montana State University Billings Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will discontinue sponsorship of men's and women's tennis as varsity sports effective immediately following the 2014-15 academic year announced by university officials Tuesday.
 
"The decision to remove tennis from our varsity sports was incredibly difficult, but was necessary given the current state of the university's budget as a whole," said MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. "We are here first and foremost to support the student-athletes and coaches on our tennis team and ensure they have a positive experience for the remainder of the 2015 season and beyond."
 
The athletic department will honor all scholarships for tennis student-athletes for the entirety of their collegiate studies, and each student-athlete has been welcomed to continue their education at MSU Billings and progress towards completing their degrees. MSUB's tennis student-athletes have also been granted an immediate release to transfer to another institution and continue their tennis careers if they choose to do so.
 
"We will honor all scholarships to our current tennis student-athletes and are here to support them with whatever decision they choose," Montague said. "Whether that is to continue their education at MSUB or to pursue their playing careers at another institution, we as a department and university as a whole will help in any way we can to facilitate this process."
 
MSUB faculty, staff and students were alerted to the institution's $4.4 million budget shortfall during a series of Budget Briefings held at both the university and City College campuses on Dec. 10, 2014. Another series of briefings was held Tuesday so the campus could hear the results of a nearly two-month, campus-wide endeavor to balance the budget against declining enrollment.
 
"Our continued enrollment decline is not isolated to one area of campus, it affects all of us," said first-year chancellor Dr. Mark Nook. "Academic affairs, athletics, administrative services, student affairs, and my division have all proposed strategic reductions in our general operating budget for this upcoming fiscal year."
 
The decision to remove a varsity sport was made in alignment with the core principals set forth at the original Budget Briefings in December. The situation was to be taken into account on a university-wide basis, and approached without the mindset of making unilateral cuts across all departments.
 
For Athletics, the removal of tennis results not only in an annual savings of $230,000, but entirely disassociates MSUB from membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as it was only an affiliate member in tennis.
 
"As a department we believe it is crucial that we provide the best possible experience for the greatest number of student-athletes," Montague said. "A unilateral cut of 10 percent across all sports would have jeopardized this core value for many sports that are already underfunded and are in need of improved facilities. The importance of being in full alignment with our core conference, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, was another key factor, as removing a sport sponsored by the GNAC would have severely impacted our membership."
 
The contract of men's and women's tennis interim head coach Becky King will not be renewed following the 2014-15 academic year, after she was appointed to the role in an interim status following the exit of former head coach Lew Kosich after the 2013-14 season.

"We are thankful to Becky King for stepping into this position and for all of the hard work she has done in helping our tennis teams to be competitive this year," Montague said. "Becky has our full support moving forward not only for the remainder of her teams' 2015 schedules, but as she moves on and pursues her next career step as well."
 
"This is a sad time for our athletic department and the campus as a whole," King said. "I understand why cuts have to be made, but it still isn't easy to deal with. This is a great group of student-athletes and I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work with all of them. I know that MSUB is dedicated in supporting these student-athletes and their education moving forward. The tennis programs will be deeply missed."
 
Other departments experiencing drastic cuts included:

• Academic Affairs - $2.4 million
• Administrative Services - $815,000
• Student Affairs - $335,000

 
MSU Billings administrators will continue to hold Budget Briefings throughout the spring semester and into summer. For now, MSU Billings will start its new fiscal year with a balanced budget.
 
All inquiries regarding the removal of tennis should be directed to the MSU Billings University Relations office, at 406-657-2266 or to Aaron Clingingsmith directly via cell phone at 406-794-7485.