University of North Dakota Discontinues Men’s and Women’s Tennis Programs

The University of North Dakota announced on Thursday, April 30, 2026, that it is discontinuing both its men’s and women’s tennis programs effective immediately.

The decision brings the university’s total number of varsity sports programs down to 15 across three athletic conferences.

Director of Athletics Bill Chaves described the decision as a difficult one for the department and the community, noting that the university must adapt to a changing environment within collegiate sports.

Over the past five years, Division I athletics has experienced more change than the previous 30 years combined. This has required us to adapt to a new landscape by reinventing the way we operate our athletic department, as well as analyzing the existing resources we have and reallocating those resources moving forward. We are grateful for everything our student-athletes have contributed to our campus and remain committed to supporting them through this transition.

Bill Chaves, Director of Athletics

Compliance and Evaluation Process

University officials stated that Title IX compliance remained a guiding priority and a central component of the decision-making process for long-term athletics planning.

The university utilized an evaluation process to determine the sustainability of its programs. This assessment focused on several key metrics, including:

• Participation opportunities by gender
• Roster management practices
• Proportionality relative to undergraduate enrollment
• The ability to provide equitable, competitive, and developmental support across all varsity programs

By removing both the men’s and women’s teams simultaneously, the university maintains its compliance with Title IX rules.

Student-Athlete Support and Legacy

UND has committed to supporting affected student-athletes during the transition. All current tennis student-athletes will retain their scholarships for the remainder of their academic careers if they choose to remain at the university.

For those who prefer to leave the university, the athletic department will provide personalized assistance to help student-athletes pursue transfer opportunities.

The university also intends to honor the history of the tennis programs through the UND Letterwinners Association Athletics Hall of Fame.

Among the affected athletes is Cole Wilber, a Grand Forks native, who was the only North Dakota native on the rosters of the two teams.

Recent Program Performance

The discontinuation comes despite recent competitive success for both programs in the Summit League.

The men’s tennis team finished the season with a 15-10 record and earned a spot as the runner-up at the Summit League Championship.

The women’s tennis team similarly finished as the runner-up at the Summit League Championship, posting a 14-10 record for the season.