Dartmouth to cut swimming, diving programs

The Associated Press
HANOVER, N.H. (November 25, 2002 1:11 p.m. EST) - Dartmouth will eliminate its varsity swimming and diving programs after the season in a budget-cutting move.

The college's pool is considered substandard for Division I. Bringing it up to standard would require an investment of $20 million or more and the possible relocation of other sports facilities, athletic director JoAnn Harper said Monday.

Fifty-three athletes are on the Division I teams, but nine will graduate before the cuts take effect, school officials said. Three full-time coaches and a part-time coach also will lose their jobs.

The cuts will save the athletic department $212,000 annually, officials said. Dartmouth said the cuts were part of collegewide budget reductions totaling $4.9 million for fiscal 2003 and $5.7 million for fiscal 2004.