North Idaho College to cut golf program

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College announced Wednesday that it will eliminate its golf program after spring 2025, citing an “unsustainable” athletics budget that NIC’s accreditors recently highlighted as a risk.

Golf is the first program to be cut at the college since NIC disbanded the baseball program in 2002. Cutting golf will save NIC more than $600,000, according to the college. 

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” NIC Interim Provost Lloyd Duman said in a news release. “It does not reflect on the quality of the program or people involved in any way. It was made so as to affect the least number of student-athletes and employees as possible.” 

Duman said golf “has a relatively high cost per student.” He also said that, due to Title IX requirements, there must be gender equity when eliminating a sport. Golf has both men’s and women’s teams. 

Though 24 student athletes currently play golf for NIC, administrators said cutting the program will affect no more than 17 student athletes who could have returned to compete. 

“NIC will honor tuition, fees and room and board for golf student-athletes who choose to remain enrolled at NIC through the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters, but golf will no longer be offered as a sport here,” Duman said.

There are no plans to eliminate any additional athletic programs, Duman said. 

“Other cost-cutting measures will be necessary in the future to establish a sustainable budget for the athletic program, but none that will affect athletics this year,” a news release said. 

NIC golf coach Russell Grove declined to comment on the college’s decision Wednesday. 

“This is going to negatively impact a lot of people,” Grove said in a public Facebook post Tuesday evening. “The golf program has run out of a net income for 9 of the last 10 years and has benefited so many people greatly. I’m truly heartbroken and at a loss for words. I think the only hope is for the new board to get involved.” 

NIC is returning to the NJCAA for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The Cardinals moved to the regionally based Northwest Athletic Conference, winning six men's titles in an eight-year span under coach Russell Grove. The women’s team also won the conference title last season, as well as in 2015 and 2016.

In November, trustees voted unanimously to direct NIC President Nick Swayne “to take the necessary action to work with the athletic department leadership, to contain costs and to bring back to the board at a future meeting a comprehensive review of the athletic program.” 

Trustee Tarie Zimmerman said the board will honor the commitments NIC has made to any current student athletes. 

Charlie Ward traveled from England to Coeur d’Alene to chase an NJCAA championship as part of NIC’s men’s golf program. His stay might only last until the spring. 

“I came here to be part of a successful program,” said Ward, a freshman from Manchester. “I wanted to come somewhere and be a part of a great program and compete for a national title.” 

Athletes learned of the decision Tuesday afternoon, via an email from NIC athletic director Shawn Noel. 

College leaders said the decision to cut golf is part of a larger effort to bring NIC in line with recommendations from its accreditor. NIC continues to operate under a show cause sanction, the last step before loss of accreditation. 

Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years, NIC’s athletics budget grew from $2.2 million to $6.2 million. 

The increase is tied to costs associated with NIC’s return to the National Junior College Athletic Association, as well as the board’s 3-2 vote last year to have NIC cover tuition, fees, books, room and board and one round-trip flight for all student athletes playing sports associated with the Scenic West Athletic Conference, regardless of the student’s residency. This represents a commitment of about $40,000 per student athlete. 

In a recent report, evaluators from NIC’s accreditor said the decisions to switch athletics conferences and cover all student athlete expenses have “placed a multi-million-dollar burden on NIC’s budget and a substantial hidden tax on NIC’s academic and student support services.” 

“NIC’s current budget model, with athletics at the center, remains a risk to the college and is not sustainable in terms of governance, finance and personnel,” the report said.

According to NIC, the cost of the golf program for fiscal year 2025 is as follows:  

• $263,850 for operating costs, including personnel, travel and other miscellaneous costs  

• $174,720 for tuition scholarships  

• $144,000 for room and board scholarships  

• $9,600 for travel reimbursement  

• $9,600 for textbook scholarships  

Sport budget numbers are based on projected actual costs. Not budgeted for are post-season travel and tournament fees, estimated at $22,000, according to NIC. That brings the program’s total cost to $623,770. 

Of the 24 student athletes playing golf for NIC, three are from Idaho. The rest are out-of-state or international student athletes. 

Signing day for NJCAA golfers began on Nov. 1. The date for NCAA golfers was Nov. 13.

“Because of the lack of communication with us and the school, it’s an impossible situation,” Ward said. “We’ve got a handful of kids that turned down offers at bigger schools to stay here and improve their game.” 

Ward is in the U.S. on a student visa. He said he’ll have to find another college or return to England. 

“That’s really what has made things so difficult,” he said. 

Lev Heaney, a freshman from Big Sky High in Missoula, Mont., echoed Ward’s thoughts.   

“I had some offers from some NAIA schools but wanted to come here to work on my career,” she said. “I started my career so late; I came here because I wanted to work on my game and eventually go to a Division I program.” 

In a news release, Swayne commended Grove, who is in his 10th season at NIC. 

“His golf teams have excelled and they should be proud of their accomplishments,” Swayne said. “I know I am. It’s extremely unfortunate, but we have run out of options.”

    In this May photo, North Idaho College men's and women's golf teams celebrate after each were victorious at the Northwest Athletic Conference championships at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, Wash. In the front row from left are Ava Young, Megan Quinton, assistant coach Russ Grove, Josh McCartain, Lauryn Bulger and Laila Jalil; and back row from left, assistant coach Brittany Pounds, Rien Solodan, Dyson Lish, Spence Matson, Jarett Giles, Quinn Abbott, Charlie Terwilliger, Sofia Lippiello and head coach Russell Grove. Photo courtesy of NIC.