Affected programs are men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. The move affects 68 student-athletes and nine coaches. ECU previously led the American Athletic Conference with 20 sports (following the departure of Connecticut) and will now have 16 sports (9 women’s, 7 men’s). The NCAA requires Division I FBS schools to have a minimum of 16 sports including a minimum eight women’s and six men’s sports. ECU will remain at 16 sponsored sports.

ECU is also taking measures to reduce an estimated $4.9 million deficit the athletics department faces. The plan includes cuts to operations within athletics, regional scheduling and traveling for select sports, a limit on summer school for student-athletes, and suspending all professional development/conferences for a minimum of one year.