Marshall cuts swimming, diving team

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Marshall University is cutting its swimming and diving team at the end of this season.

The move was approved in a virtual Board of Governors meeting Tuesday.

The board also voted to create a new stunt program.

The swimming and dive team is preparing to compete in the American Conference swimming and diving championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. That event will be held Wednesday through Saturday.

Marshall President Brad Smith says the three factors leading to this decision are financial, infrastructure and Title IX alignment proportionality.

He says $819,000 have gone to the swimming and dive team annually, and the stunt team is expected take $330,000 to fund. Smith says they expect to save $2 million over the next three years.

In a statement, Smith said, “Today, the Marshall University Board of Governors approved a difficult decision. Following our team’s upcoming conference championship, Marshall will discontinue our women’s swim & dive program and add a new team — women’s STUNT.

Before addressing anything else, I want to speak directly to what matters most — our student-athletes, their families, our coaches and the alumni who built this program. I know this hurts. Over the past week, I have heard from many of you personally, and I’ve read your messages carefully. Your love for this team and the way you have advocated for one another has been powerful, and it deserves respect.

I also want to address the timing. We shared this when we did to ensure our student-athletes have access to the full spring transfer window and every available option. Delaying this decision would not have changed the financial analysis, Title IX participation analysis or the facility realities — but it could have reduced options for the young women most impacted.

Let me be clear about what this decision is — and is not.

This is not a performance decision. Our swim & dive program has represented Marshall with pride, competing with strength and achieving greatness in the classroom. This is a structural decision about sustainability and alignment in a rapidly changing NCAA environment.

Three factors ultimately drove this decision:

• Participation and Title IX alignment: Swim & dive carries a roster of roughly 27–30 student-athletes, while STUNT can support up to 65, significantly expanding women’s participation opportunities.
• Financial sustainability: Swim & dive costs approximately $819,000 annually. A fully developed STUNT program is projected to cost approximately $330,000 and generate multi-year savings exceeding $2 million.
• Facility reality: The Fitch Natatorium has served Marshall well for decades, but sponsoring Division I swimming at a championship level requires substantial capital and facility upgrades we cannot responsibly commit to at this time without compromising broader athletic priorities. The pool will continue to serve academic programs, recreation and community needs.

Most importantly, Marshall will honor every current swim & dive scholarship for any student-athlete who remains enrolled through graduation. We are providing advising and transition support, and for those who choose to transfer, we will assist them through the transfer process. We are not abandoning these young women — we are walking with them through this transition.

At Marshall, we often talk about Herd Mentality. Herd Mentality means doing what is best for the whole, even when it is hard — and these are never easy moments. But leadership requires honesty, discipline and care — and a commitment to doing what is best for Marshall’s long-term strength.

To our student-athletes — you will always be part of the Herd. And we will honor your place here with the support and respect you deserve."

Athletic director Gerald Harrison says it’s a decision rooted in responsibility, and it has nothing to do with the team’s performance or character.

The team consists of 28 student athletes, and only two of those are seniors.

Harrison says 17 of the 28 members of the team have entered the transfer portal. He says the university will continue to provide aid they currently receive to the team members who choose to stay.

Harrison says he informed the team about the decision last week. Smith says delaying the decision would hurt the student athletes’ options moving forward.