STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is set to cut jobs and operating budgets due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to an official press release, officials said roughly 232 of the departments 241 employees will be affected by either salary cuts, layoffs or furloughs. These changes, along with previous budget cuts and a hiring freeze of nine vacant positions for the future, will remove around $13 million from OSU's 2020-21 budget.
Officials said sixteen of the 25 athletics' employees volunteered for pay cuts, including Holder and every head coach. Officials laid off ten department employees on Wednesday and 66 employees will start participating in a furlough program. The furlough program will begin on Sept. 16. Also, beginning this month, 151 employees will notice a reduction in their salary. The salary cuts range from 2.5 to 25 percent. Officials said the department's highest paid employees are taking the largest cuts in pay.
These cuts were painful and not at all based on performance. They are byproducts of the unfortunate situation in which we find ourselves. I am especially thankful for the coaches that had the protection of a multi-year contract, but still volunteered to participate in the pay reductions.
Officials said the cuts don't fix the problem OSU is experiencing as they are experiencing a budget deficit estimated around $30 million. Therefore, additional measure may be coming in the months ahead.
"Oklahoma State remains committed to protecting all student-athlete scholarships and sport programs," Holder said.
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