(The Center Square) − Auditors have identified financial shortfalls in the athletic departments of five Louisiana public universities, with expenses outpacing revenues across the board.
The combined deficit for these institutions exceeds $21.7 million. Each program is largely reliant on institutional support and contributions.
Louisiana Tech University recorded the largest deficit, with $33.37 million in expenses against $22.87 million in revenue, leaving a $10.5 million shortfall.
The largest expenses included $6.08 million in athletic student aid and $6.39 million in coaching salaries and benefits. The university’s highest revenue sources were $6.77 million in direct institutional support and $5.03 million in contributions.
Northwestern State University saw a $2.66 million deficit, bringing in $12.48 million in revenue while incurring $15.15 million in expenses.
The top revenue sources were $5.48 million in institutional support and $1.49 million from student fees, while student aid ($5.48 million) and coaching salaries ($3.09 million) accounted for the largest expenditures.
At the University of Louisiana at Monroe, expenses reached $22.73 million, surpassing revenues of $18.23 million, leaving a $4.49 million gap.
The biggest revenue sources included $7.35 million in institutional support and $3.42 million from guarantees, which are payments received for participating in games against higher-profile teams. The highest costs were $5.58 million for athletic student aid and $5.39 million for coaching salaries.
McNeese State University operated at a $1.65 million deficit, with $16.89 million in expenses against $15.23 million in revenue.
Institutional support provided the largest revenue source at $6.37 million, followed by $2.45 million in contributions. Expenses were largely driven by $4.55 million in athletic student aid and $3.12 million in coaching salaries.
Nicholls State University posted the smallest shortfall at $1.69 million, with $12.95 million in expenses exceeding $11.27 million in revenue.
Student fees ($2.62 million) and institutional support ($2.51 million) were the primary funding sources, while $3.1 million in athletic student aid and $2.89 million in coaching salaries ranked as the largest expenses.
