SSU Bets Big on Comeback: Reviving College Sports After Budget Cuts

Sonoma State University is making a bold move to bring back its athletic programs after cutting them due to budget problems. The plan? Restart 10 sports by 2027-28, including basketball, soccer, golf, cross country, softball, and volleyball. This isn't just about adding teams — it's about rebuilding an entire athletic department from the ground up.

Joan McDermott is leading the charge as interim athletic director. She's no stranger to tough starts. Years ago, she took over a struggling volleyball program at Metropolitan State University with only two returning players. Six years later, she had turned things around with a 136-64 record, two conference titles, and four NCAA tournament appearances. Now she's applying that same grit to SSU.

The road ahead is packed with challenges. First up: hiring coaches for all 10 sports. A national search is launching soon, and McDermott wants passionate leaders who believe in the mission. "It's going to take work," she said, "but we're looking for people who are really enthusiastic and really believe in this place."

What makes this effort unique? According to Allen Hardison, commissioner of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, this kind of full athletic revival may be unprecedented in modern college sports. SSU tried something similar in the 1970s, but the landscape has changed dramatically. Back then, community support and funding helped bring sports back. Today, the school is banking on $8 million in state funding, student fees, tuition from new athletes, and revenue from camps and facility rentals.

McDermott says this time will be different. Her focus? Stronger fundraising and tighter financial control. The goal isn't just to return — it's to stay. With careful planning and community backing, SSU is aiming to prove that college athletics can rise again, even after being cut.