A Commitment to Athletics MACOMB, IL (wium) - Western Illinois University's athletics department is reevaluating its funding sources.

Western has 20 NCAA Division One men's and women's sports programs. Athletics Director Tim Van Alstine says that stretches the department's budget thin. "It's one thing to have 20 sports and only limp along, but it's another thing to have 20 sports and make a decision to be competitive," says Van Alstine. "We either have the change how we fund our athletics programs or change how we look."

"If we do have the 20 sports let's make a commitment to be the very best we can be," says Van Alstine. "I think it's a disservice to the student athletes, to the coaches, and to the University to simply provide an opportunity without providing the opportunity to be successful."

Van Alstine says the department's money comes from the University, student fees, and self generated dollars through ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

He says the economy has impacted the amount of self generated income and student fee revenue has declined. "We are not immune to the financial struggles within the University," says Van Alstine.

Last month the University announced it would eliminate its swimming and diving programs in an effort to save money. However, it later reversed course and decided to reinstate both programs. "We wanted to do what was right for our student athletes," says Van Alstine. "As time went on we started to evaluate if we were really accommodating the interest of our student athletes."

Van Alstine says eliminating programs is not the right approach to take. "The silver lining in this is it will hopefully force us to rethink how we fund a 20 sport NCAA Division One Athletics Program," Van Alstine says. © Copyright 2009, wium