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Arkansas reinstates men's and women's tennis programs after donors provide short-term funding
TL;DR
Arkansas has reinstated its men's and women's tennis programs after receiving short-term funding from donors. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek emphasized the need for a long-term endowment to ensure program sustainability.
Key points
- Arkansas tennis teams reinstated after donor funding
- Short-term funding aims to provide a viable path forward
- Long-term sustainability requires a significant endowment
Mentioned in this story
ArkansasHunter Yurachek
Arkansas Programs Return Tennis
FILE - Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas Programs Return Tennis
FILE - Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
College Programs Dropped Tennis
FILE - Spectators crowd center court at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex during the UCLA and North Carolina women's doubles match in the NCAA Division I tennis championships, May 20, 2014, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/David Tulis, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas tennis teams are back in business thanks to a short-term funding boost that the school's athletic director said “offers a viable path forward.” Athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Thursday that he had meetings with alumni and stakeholders who support the programs and that donors provided short-term funding for the teams that “Looking ahead, a significant endowment remains the only feasible long-term solution to ensure the sustainability of our tennis programs,” Yurachek said. “A dedicated group of supporters has committed to pursuing that goal.” Yurachek said the athletic department and boosters would keep tabs on the funding effort to make sure it “does not detract from any of our broader fundraising priorities” and that it lends itself to a long-term solution for the programs. Though other tennis programs at Saint Louis, Illinois State and North Dakota have been shuttered as schools struggle with growing financial strains in the revenue-sharing era, the disbandment of the programs at a well-funded SEC school sent through tennis and college sports in general. Arkansas spent $2.35 million on the teams in fiscal 2025, which is about what a top school spends in name, image and likeness payments for a top football or basketball recruit. The news of the reinstatement comes just a few days before the sport's NCAA championships conclude. The Arkansas men qualified for the tournament and lost to Cornell in the first round earlier this month, about a week after Yurachek had informed the team it would be discontinued. \\_ AP college sports:
Q&A
Why were the Arkansas tennis programs disbanded?
The Arkansas tennis programs were disbanded due to financial strains faced by the athletic department.
How much funding did Arkansas receive to reinstate its tennis teams?
The exact amount of short-term funding provided by donors has not been disclosed, but it was enough to reinstate the programs temporarily.
What is the future plan for the Arkansas tennis programs?
The future plan involves pursuing a significant endowment to ensure the long-term sustainability of the tennis programs.