Michigan State Declines to Reinstate Swimming Program

The university rejects a push to revive swimming and diving despite supporters raising $5 million in pledges.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Swimming

Michigan State Declines to Reinstate Swimming Program

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Michigan State University athletic director Dan Bartholomae has officially declined to reinstate the school's swimming and diving programs. This decision arrives after supporters failed to meet fundraising goals for a new facility.

Why it matters

The decision marks a permanent setback for advocates who sought to reverse the 2020 program elimination. It highlights the university's prioritization of facility infrastructure and financial stability over the restoration of the athletic team.

The university originally cited a $2 million annual operating cost for the swimming and diving programs in 2020. Supporters managed to raise $5 million in pledges by the October 2023 deadline, far short of the $30 million target.

The players

Dan Bartholomae

He serves as the athletic director at Michigan State University and is responsible for managing the department's athletic programs and facility decisions.

Michigan State University

This public research university located in East Lansing is the institution that oversees the athletic department and its sports offerings.

The details

Michigan State eliminated its men's and women's swimming and diving programs in October 2020, citing financial uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The university has confirmed there are no plans to reinstate the programs within the next 18 to 24 months, as it shifts focus toward a new 293,000-square-foot student recreation center scheduled to feature a 50-meter recreational pool.

October 2020: Swimming and diving programs were eliminated.
October 2023: Fundraising deadline for program reinstatement passed.
September 12, 2026: Alumni held their 70th annual reunion meet.
Spring 2027: Scheduled demolition of IM West.

Season Trajectory

The decision to permanently end the swimming and diving program mirrors the 2001 elimination of the men's gymnastics program at Michigan State, continuing a long-term pattern of the university removing specific varsity sports. This cements the current trajectory where the university focuses on recreational facilities rather than varsity aquatic competition.

The closure confirms that there is no path for the return of varsity swimming for current or prospective student-athletes. Facilities in East Lansing will focus on the new 50-meter recreational pool within the student recreation center rather than competitive aquatic training.

The takeaway

The university's choice to prioritize recreational infrastructure over varsity program restoration underscores the difficulty of reviving cut collegiate sports. Athletes and supporters should recognize that financial and facility requirements often act as insurmountable hurdles for program reinstatement.

What happens next

The indoor pool facility at IM West is currently scheduled for demolition in spring 2027, and a new 50-meter recreational pool is slated to open within the new student recreation center that same year.