COEUR d’Alene, Idaho – After announcing the elimination of the men’s and women’s golf teams, budget cuts are on the way for all athletic programs at North Idaho College (NIC) in an effort to reduce athletics spending by $1.8 million over the next two years.
The cuts come after the school’s budget nearly tripled from $2.3 million to $6.2 million.
Reasons for the jump in the budget include increased scholarship amounts and expanded travel.
NIC administrators say they looked into all options for scaling back the athletics budget without cutting any programs. But told those in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting that it proved impossible.
“It’s just… hard to see it go away. And I think, at least, I feel like, not enough time and effort went into this decision. And it was kind of off-the-cuff. And left us coaches in the blind. So… I’m asking… just respectfully… that you reconsider this,” NIC’s head golf coach, Russ Grove, said at the meeting.
In fiscal year 2026, NIC plans to slash the athletics budget again, by $1.5 million by:
1. Reducing funding for tuition and fees by 33% for all remaining teams.
2. Reducing funding for housing by 33% for all remaining teams.
3. No student travel for all remaining teams.
4. Eliminating golf.
For 2027, they will cut over $290,000 from the athletics budget by reducing funding for tuition and fees by 9% and reducing funding for housing by 17% for all teams.
At that time, the college will also stop covering the cost of all books for all student athletes, which will save the school over $81,000.
