Ohio State University’s athletic department is implementing extended furloughs and will eliminate more than two dozen full-time positions as a result of a projected $107 million deficit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The school released a statement on Wednesday.

In a detailed message regarding its financial situation, Ohio State announced that it has implemented a hiring freeze and will eliminate 25 full-time positions permanently within the athletic department in an attempt to offset some of the costs. It will also implement hundreds of furloughs over the next year.

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From Ohio State’s release:

  • 48 members of the athletic training staff and strength and conditioning staff will have a 5-day intermittent furlough, to be completed between Oct. 6 and June 30, 2021
  • 213 staff members are assigned to a 10-day intermittent furlough, to be completed between Oct. 6 and June 30, 2021
  • 84 staff members will be asked to take a voluntary, 5 percent salary reduction between Oct. 1 and June 30, 2021
  • A permanent reduction in force will eliminate 25 full-time athletics positions

Ohio State did announce that it will not be eliminating any of its athletics programs at this time.

“Like our colleagues in the Big Ten, and across the country, intercollegiate athletics at Ohio State will have to significantly adjust as the pandemic will have a long-term impact,” said OSU athletic director Gene Smith. “We will implement a long-term deficit recovery plan but will continue to focus on serving our student-athletes at the highest level.”