Wichita State Athletics cut five people from its staff last week, according to a report from The Wichita Eagle Tuesday morning.

The Sunflower has confirmed that an associate athletic director of strategic communications, a senior content producer, an assistant women’s golf coach, an assistant men’s golf coach, and an academic coordinator have been removed from WSU Athletics’ staff directory. 

Madison Stein-Mason, WSU deputy athletic director of external affairs and revenue generation, wrote to The Sunflower that the Athletics Department is not able to comment on “specific personnel matters.”

“This is a critical moment for the industry. It demands strategic and responsible management to protect the developmental experience of our student-athletes and to ensure the long-term health and viability of WSU Athletics,” Stein-Mason wrote.

The cuts come during the week after a 7% decrease in the university’s general use budget was announced — a $7.9 million reduction for the next fiscal year. On Dec. 4, 2025, the College of Engineering cut at least seven former employees due to a then-projected 3% budget decrease, which has since been raised.

In the past year, officials with WSU Athletics have made clear that more funding is required in this new era of collegiate athletics.

In April 2025, WSU Athletic Director Kevin Saal requested $1 million in name, image and likeness donations “in order to elevate the standard of the Shockers’ men’s basketball program.”

In the summer, the $2.8 billion House vs. NCAA settlement was reached, entitling student athletes to be directly compensated by their respective universities.

“WSU Athletics, like most athletic departments across the country, is evaluating how to best structure and right-size our operations to remain competitive in Division I,” Stein-Mason wrote. 

For now, WSU Athletics must navigate paying its athletes while balancing budget restraints from the university.