Home College NCAA Air Force Athletics Eliminates 21 Staff Positions

Air Force Athletics Eliminates 21 Staff Positions

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The Air Force athletic department informed 21 individuals on Wednesday and Thursday that their positions will be eliminated as part of the Air Force-wide budget cuts announced in early March.

The cuts include 10 assistant coaches, four from the physical education department, two trainers, one equipment specialist and one from the sports information office. In addition to the 21 people affected, nine vacant positions have also been taken off the books.

The positions will remain through at least Sept. 30, with some not being vacated until December.

Department-wide cuts were inevitable, particularly when athletic director Hans Mueh opted not to drop any sports from the budget.

“We knew this was going to be tough and there was going to be pain,” said Troy Garnhart, the Falcons’ assistant athletic director in charge of communications.

A surgical and individual-specific approach was used. In some instances assistants had informed the department that they intended to leave after the upcoming or current season or exit the profession altogether, so those were the positions that were eliminated.

A committee was put together to advise this downsizing process.

“We were going to feel a tremendous impact one way or another,” Garnhart said. “We what we did was look for ways to minimize it as best we could.”

All eliminated positions were employees paid with government funds.

No assistant positions from revenue sports – football, hockey, men’s and women’s basketball – were taken. In fact, the men’s basketball team announced the hiring of an assistant Thursday.

Garnhart said Air Force will aid in placing the terminated employees. He also said the department does not intend to release a list of the specific coaches and employees who are losing their jobs.

Athletic Department position cuts

Support (20)

Finance — accountant (vacant)

Human Resources – deployment manager (vacant)

Communications – public affairs specialist

Communications – public affairs specialist (vacant)

Physical Education – senior physical education instructor

Physical Education – human performance lab advanced education instructor

Physical Education – educational technician

Physical Education – instructor of education (aquatics)

Athletic Programs – vice director (vacant)

Athletic Support – director of support (vacant)

Cadet Fitness Center – fitness and sports specialist

Cadet Fitness Center – fitness and sports specialist

Cadet Fitness Center – fitness and sports specialist

Intercollegiate Logistics – transportation assistant

Intercollegiate Logistics – transportation assistant

Athletic Training – physical therapist (vacant)

Athletic Training – exercise physiologist/trainer

Equipment supply – equipment specialist (vacant)

Strength and Conditioning – instructor of physical education/ strength and conditioning

Events Management – athletic events assistant (vacant)

Coaches (10)

Fencing – assistant

Fencing – assistant (vacant)

Women’s Gymnastics – assistant

Lacrosse – assistant

Men’s Soccer – assistant

Wrestling – assistant

Men’s Gymnastics – assistant

Baseball – assistant

Women’s Soccer – assistant

Track and field/cross country – assistant

This article was republished with permission from the author, Brent Briggeman. The original article was published in Athletic Business and can be viewed by clicking here.

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