Robert Morris University is breaking its silence after canceling its men's and women's hockey programs last week. University President Chris Howard called it a painful decision, but stood by it.
"We've had little choice. I know this decision came as a painful surprise to the student athletes and many other members of our community," explained Howard. "Over the past several years, RMU - like other schools - has had to make some difficult, strategic operational and financial decisions."
He said hockey was its most expensive Division I sport, and ticket sales and donations were lacking. According to Howard, sustaining Division I ice hockey in the long term would "require approximately $5 million to $30 million in facility upgrades with no guarantee of attracting the kind of corporate support needed to secure that investment."
Despite external efforts to raise money to save the program, Howard said there is no plan to bring the programs back.
"We don't have any specific plans to bring the programs back. You've seen the numbers - they're not insignificant. So that's sitting out there, but we don't have any plans to bring the programs back per se," he said.
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He also noted that RMU officials are not discussing removing any other athletic programs.
On the resignation of Board member and Steelers GM Kevin Colbert, Howard only thanked Colbert for his service.
The announcement of the cancelation of the programs came on May 26.