Another program bites the dust. 

The University of North Carolina-Wilmington athletic department announced on Monday that they were cutting four of their five running programs, among them women’s track (indoor and outdoor), men’s track (outdoor), and men’s cross country. The decision is effective starting in the 2015-2016 school year.

Women’s cross country was the only program to survive the cut. Financial issues and Title IX requirements were listed as the reasons that the school was dropping the sports. 

To stay within gender equality rules set by NCAA Division 1, UNCW has added women’s sand volleyball as an officially recognized sport.

UNCW is just the latest NCAA Division 1 program to cut ties with their cross country/track teams. Notable schools that have dropped track and/or cross country over the last two years include Maryland, Temple, and the University of Richmond. 

Lack of profitability makes running programs an easy target when the times get tough. While athletic departments may claim to have their student athletes’ interests in mind, money continues to drive their decisions. Let’s hope that the sand volleyball team allows UNCW to get back in the black.