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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandals Athletics Post Deficit Losses In UI Programs Likely Impacted By Coaching Turnover

Associated Press

The University of Idaho’s intercollegiate athletics program is ailing, with the first losing budget season since the 1980s.

For fiscal year 1996, it showed a loss of $359,000, running a distant third in total ticket sales for men’s basketball and football behind Idaho State and Boise State.

It is unclear what impact that might have on Idaho’s jump to the Division I Big West Conference.

UI vice president Jerry Wallace told the state Board of Education last week it was the first time he could remember the school ending a year with a deficit in athletics.

“It’s a very long and painful answer,” he said, adding the recent hiring of a president, athletic director and head coaches for football and basketball means some athletic jobs were “double-salaried” as outgoing and incoming employees exchanged lockers.

“There’s a fresh resolve to fiscal responsibility,” he said. “This will not happen again.”

According to a report for the state board, Boise State athletics lost $26,000 in 1996. UI’s loss almost halved a $738,000 reserve. The Broncos’ reserve stands at $110,000.

Athletics produced $167,000 for Idaho State and $13,000 for LewisClark State.

The report said Boise State sold $1.33 million worth of tickets for football last year and $723,000 for basketball. At Idaho, ticket sales were $292,000 for football and $60,000 for basketball.