Sonoma State University is making major budget cuts and one of the biggest casualties is the athletics program. Starting this summer SSU will officially eliminate all sports teams, leaving student-athletes looking for new opportunities and coaches without jobs.
For years, SSU athletics has been a huge part of campus life, giving students a chance to compete and represent their school. Now, those opportunities are being taken away and many are questioning why.
Richard Shayewitz, head coach of the men’s basketball team and an SSU alum, says the decision is heartbreaking.
“My reaction was and still is sadness. There is a lot of tradition here in the athletic department and to see it die is heartbreaking,” Shayewitz said. “It is a shame that athletics is not valued on a small campus like ours.”
For student-athletes, the news has been overwhelming. Many of them now have to go through the recruiting process all over again, figuring out where they’ll play next.
“I was getting out of class and one of my friends had told me about the news and at first I didn’t believe him, so I went to see our group chat and that’s when the shock set in,” an anonymous student-athlete told The Star. “We never got any sort of notice, it was just the email that was sent out.”
Not only is the news stunning to many, but it’s also distracting current student-athletes who are in-season.
“They get distracted with thoughts of where they are going after this season, going through the recruiting process again and performing so they can get recruited again,” Shayewitz said. “You can see in the scores, we dropped the two games that week to teams that are not better than us. We were in a hazy state of mind.”
Teams that heard the news before their season began are able to look at the situation a little different.
“My mindset for the season hasn’t changed and I’m still going to go out there and play my game and not have the news affect me. I think that’s the mindset we should have,” an anonymous student-athlete said. “Why not end with a bang.”
The impact isn’t just on the players—coaches and staff are also being hit hard. “My staff and I are out of jobs,” Shayewitz said. “It’s a distraction for all of us.”
Despite the tough news, Shayewitz still looks back on his time at SSU with appreciation.
“Sonoma State has been a special place for me,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to spend a majority of my life here, working with incredible coaches, staff and people around the campus.”
Beyond the emotional toll, there are financial implications. Student-athletes must now think about the costs of transferring schools, applying elsewhere and possibly moving away—all unexpected expenses that add stress on top of an already difficult situation.

As the semester moves forward, student-athletes and coaches are trying to figure out their next steps. Whether that means transferring to another school or moving on to a new job, one thing is clear—this decision has left a lasting impact on SSU’s community. For now, SSU’s sports legacy is coming to an end, leaving behind memories, frustration and uncertainty about what the future holds.