{"id":5692,"date":"2026-07-28T14:09:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5692"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:09:34","slug":"sonoma-state-university-to-restore-most-intercollegiate-sports-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5692","title":{"rendered":"Sonoma State University to restore most intercollegiate sports in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><div><p>Sonoma State University will bring back intercollegiate sports in 2027 following a two-year absence driven by administrators\u2019 decision to eliminate all athletics to help close a major budget deficit.<\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5663\">Taste Food: Tofu Satay Skewers With Peanut Sauce<\/a><\/p>\n<p>SSU will have 10 NCAA Division II sports teams moving forward \u2014 dropping baseball and women\u2019s track and field. The revived programs will include men\u2019s and women\u2019s soccer, basketball, golf and cross country, and women\u2019s softball and volleyball.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:\u00a0Stanford becomes first school to organize a player-led College Football Players Association chapter<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>NCAA Division II membership requires a minimum of 10 sports for participating universities.<\/p>\n<p>Athletics \u201care an exciting way to engage our communities, help generate school spirit, enhance the student experience, and increase recruiting efforts,\u201d SSU President Michael Spagna said in a press release, while adding that \u201ccommunity engagement and support will be essential to athletics\u2019 success.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The elimination of sports was one of the big flashpoints amid sustained backlash over an unprecedented slate of nearly $24 million in budget cuts announced in January 2025 by then-interim SSU President Emily Cutrer.<\/p>\n<p>The sweeping cuts included more than 100 layoffs, the shuttering of six academic departments and elimination of almost two-dozen degree programs in addition to shuttering sports. The moves roiled the Rohnert Park campus and set off months of protests, no-confidence votes by faculty, and legislative intervention.<\/p>\n<div><ul><div><div><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University women\u00e2\u0080\u0099s basketball coach Des Abeyta, meets with...\" class=\"wp-image-5665\" height=\"588\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23-1024x588.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23-1024x588.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23-300x172.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23-768x441.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23-1536x882.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/457ca49650d99629d95971373cc54f23.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>Sonoma State University women\u2019s basketball coach Des Abeyta, meets with her team prior to a two game road trip to the Central Valley, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Rohnert Park to discuss the fallout from an announcement all athletic programs and other departments would be dropped at SSU to offset a $23.9 million deficit at the school. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Current and former men\u2019s basketball players of head coach Rich...\" class=\"wp-image-5666\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4-1024x611.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4-1024x611.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4-300x179.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4-768x458.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4-1536x917.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7e6b6f52c51b1fa67c23c57a137e56e4.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>Current and former men\u2019s basketball players of head coach Rich Shayewitz, middle, of Sonoma State University, gather for a group photo after the final home game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University men\u00e2\u0080\u0099s soccer and baseball student athletes applaud...\" class=\"wp-image-5667\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50-1024x553.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50-1024x553.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50-300x162.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50-768x415.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50-1536x830.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/619ad4c27ef2d14a5653378534d11e50.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University men\u2019s soccer and baseball student athletes applaud and cheer a statement from  Soccer coach Marcus Ziemer  Friday, Jan. 24 at the SSU campus in Rohnert Park, during a meeting and press conference to address the university\u2019s decision to shut down the entire intercollegiate athletic program. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Sonoma State University women\u00e2\u0080\u0099s soccer coach Emiria Salzman comforts...\" class=\"wp-image-5668\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8-1024x654.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8-1024x654.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/8ee05e74e4dba5dd7dd7d430bf5454b8.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>The Sonoma State University women\u2019s soccer coach Emiria Salzman comforts player Ava Ricker, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Rohnert Park, after hearing all athletic programs and other departments would be dropped at SSU to offset a $23.9 million deficit at the school. At left is incoming senior Emily Morandi. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A groundskeeper mows the soccer field at Sonoma State University...\" class=\"wp-image-5669\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd-1024x683.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17687d611b265431fc3aeb95fed940cd.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat<\/div><div>A groundskeeper mows the soccer field at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University\u00e2\u0080\u0099s women\u00e2\u0080\u0099s volleyball team begin their practice, Friday,...\" class=\"wp-image-5670\" height=\"561\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc-1024x561.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc-1024x561.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc-768x421.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc-1536x841.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99700c23edf010cdbb59c6b50dab83fc.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>Sonoma State University\u2019s women\u2019s volleyball team begin their practice, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 after a meeting and press conference with coaches about the next steps to fight the university\u2019s decision to eliminate the entire intercollegiate program at SSU. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"SSU\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Ryan Stewart, formerly of Casa Grande, plays the 3rd...\" class=\"wp-image-5671\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb-1024x648.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb-1024x648.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb-300x190.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb-768x486.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb-1536x972.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b2143add68e9f33400e06d6d5efffadb.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat<\/div><div>SSU\u2019s Ryan Stewart, formerly of Casa Grande, plays the 3rd Hole at Sonoma Golf Club during the Sonoma State Golf Invitational in Sonoma on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Sonoma State University baseball field in Rohnert Park on...\" class=\"wp-image-5672\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525-1024x683.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b914e89692d8a712c07f14e0717bd525.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat<\/div><div>The Sonoma State University baseball field in Rohnert Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University student athletes fight back tears, Thursday, Jan....\" class=\"wp-image-5673\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392-1024x556.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392-1024x556.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392-768x417.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392-1536x834.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/98870cc6f60b23471be4814c637f5392.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University student athletes fight back tears, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting at Seawolf as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30,...\" class=\"wp-image-5674\" height=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f-1024x613.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f-1024x613.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f-300x180.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f-768x460.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f-1536x919.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e735df5e435ea281005a9e8b8036176f.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting involving university administrators, as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University geology students crowd into Seawolf Plaza, Thursday,...\" class=\"wp-image-5675\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392-1024x559.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392-768x420.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392-1536x839.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/99df9e68c5b86066c85559d48541f392.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University geology students crowd into Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting involving university administrators, as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Shawn Ramus the Women\u00e2\u0080\u0099s and Gender Studies club president, reacts...\" class=\"wp-image-5676\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366-1024x622.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366-1024x622.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366-300x182.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366-768x466.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366-1536x932.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f459651a96e44a5cd8c204f3840cb366.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Shawn Ramus the Women\u2019s and Gender Studies club president, reacts with other students as Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting involving university administrators, as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"SSU faculty members, staff and students join in a protest...\" class=\"wp-image-5677\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d-1024x683.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e6826dfde06a498bca9ab31da9a9e20d.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Beth Schlanker \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>SSU faculty members, staff and students join in a protest calling for the departure of Sonoma State Interim President Emily Cutrer at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Beth Schlanker \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/div><\/div><\/ul><div><button>Show Caption<\/button><div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div><span>1<\/span> of <span>13<\/span><\/div><div>Sonoma State University women\u2019s basketball coach Des Abeyta, meets with her team prior to a two game road trip to the Central Valley, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Rohnert Park to discuss the fallout from an announcement all athletic programs and other departments would be dropped at SSU to offset a $23.9 million deficit at the school. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><span>Expand<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<p>The athletics community, with strong support from alumni, rallied on campus, testified in Long Beach at California State University system\u2019s trustees meetings and created a grassroots \u201cSave Seawolves Athletics\u201d campaign. SSU coaches filed civil rights complaints over the impacts of the cuts, and several student-athletes sued the university over how they were carried out. That litigation is ongoing.<\/p> <div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When Josh Sterling heard the news of the plan to bring sports back and relayed it to his family, he said, \u201cI had tears in my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sterling, a prominent Sonoma State soccer alum and member of \u201cSave Seawolves Athletics,\u201d called the grassroots group \u201cabout as powerful a movement as you see in college athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPressure\u2019s one word,\u201d Sterling said. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s the overwhelming support. Like they went, \u2018Oh my god, we didn\u2019t know this existed.\u2019 I think they knew that the moment we started marching around, with T-shirts, NBA players talking about us,\u201d he added, in reference to advocacy on social media and the court by Memphis Grizzlies power forward and Seawolves alum Jaylen Wells.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Ziemer, a longtime men\u2019s assistant soccer coach at Sonoma State, heard the news via a text group of program alumni that was started by his brother, former head coach Marcus Ziemer.<\/p> <div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It was a bittersweet moment. Ben knew how happy Marcus would have been to learn sports was returning to SSU, after his leading efforts to propel such an outcome last year. Marcus died in March after suffering a traumatic head injury in an electric scooter accident in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Ziemer had mixed feelings for other reasons, too. He welcomed the decision by university and Cal State officials, but can\u2019t help but be frustrated at the process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe grew up on the campus,\u201d Ziemer said of his brothers. \u201cSo it was a shame to see it led by consecutive bad decisions. I blame the chancellor\u2019s office, all the way to bad decisions made on the ground. Hopefully this brings SSU back to where it belongs. It should be the leading educational institution and a bright light for the North Coast.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><ul><div><div><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Benjamin, Marcus, Chris and Andrew Ziemer after SSU\u2019s NCAA Div....\" class=\"wp-image-5678\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4-1024x680.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4-1024x680.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4-768x510.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4-1536x1021.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/66608303b237bee500ac1e03b80b44f4.webp 1776w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Benjamin, Marcus, Chris and Andrew Ziemer after SSU\u2019s NCAA Div. 2 championship game in 1991. (Courtesy photo)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marcus Ziemer, the legendary former Sonoma State men\u00e2\u0080\u0099s soccer coach...\" class=\"wp-image-5679\" height=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fd8be5aae8fbde560e37b8077e4e1a79.webp\" width=\"287\"\/><\/figure>\n<div>Marcus Ziemer, the legendary former Sonoma State men\u2019s soccer coach who presided over that program for 35 years before it was eliminated in a round of budget cuts in 2025, died early Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026,  at a hospital in Dortmund, Germany, after suffering a traumatic brain injury.(Sonoma State University)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marcus Ziemer, the longtime men\u2019s soccer coach at Sonoma State...\" class=\"wp-image-5680\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777-1024x681.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777-1024x681.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/889f48d3c2f5c862551cee1ab9c53777.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Marcus Ziemer, the longtime men\u2019s soccer coach at Sonoma State University. Ziemer died early Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026, at a hospital in Dortmund, Germany, after suffering a traumatic brain injury. (Sonoma State University)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University men\u00e2\u0080\u0099s soccer coach Marcus Ziemer leads a...\" class=\"wp-image-5681\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f-1024x548.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f-1024x548.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f-300x161.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f-768x411.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f-1536x823.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/77f2feb614fdd7f62b9ad83c6950970f.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat file<\/div><div>Sonoma State University men\u2019s soccer coach Marcus Ziemer leads a press conference with student athletes and coaches Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at the SSU campus in Rohnert Park. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat file)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/div><\/div><\/ul><div><button>Show Caption<\/button><div><span>1<\/span> of <span>4<\/span><\/div><div>Benjamin, Marcus, Chris and Andrew Ziemer after SSU\u2019s NCAA Div. 2 championship game in 1991. (Courtesy photo)\n<\/div><span>Expand<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Ziemer said he was disappointed that baseball, one of the university\u2019s most gilded programs, was not included among the sports set for reinstatement. He hopes it might return in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Even after SSU secured a one-time $90 million windfall in rescue funds through the state Legislature last year, including $8 million to revive athletics, the future of sports at Sonoma State was unclear and leadership held back from making any promises.<\/p>\n<p>A task force set up last summer and then a \u201cfiscal feasibility team\u201d announced by Spagna soon after he took over at SSU in January set out to determine the program\u2019s ultimate fate, which hinged on questions of long-term financial sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, the university hired Joan McDermott as interim director of athletics in April to help with those efforts and is still looking to hire an athletics development officer. There have been white papers and meetings and the fiscal feasibility team submitted a final set of projections and recommendations in mid-June.<\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5661\">Taylor Farms\u2019 White House ties queried by top California Democrat amid cyclospora outbreak<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Spagna was set to announce the university\u2019s ultimate decision at a June 30 press conference that was cancelled less than 16 hours in advance without explanation for \u201cfurther deliberation and fact-gathering,\u201d SSU\u2019s spokesperson said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>The call to cut sports last year initially was \u201cmissing broader consideration for the impact of athletics\u201d on campus life and a university\u2019s draw, said Robert Eyler, who co-chaired the feasibility team. \u201cWe saw so much upheaval as a result of that decision that as a group we felt there was going to be support for athletics coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, the idea is to \u201cthink about athletics more holistically,\u201d Eyler said, and \u201cwhat it may do for recruitment of students alongside student athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>State Sen. Mike McGuire, who led efforts to secure state funding for SSU, echoed the sentiment in a statement: \u201cBringing back athletics will help invigorate student life, attract and retain new students, and restore a critical piece of Seawolf spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><ul><div><div><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30,...\" class=\"wp-image-5682\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf-1024x500.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf-1024x500.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf-300x147.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf-768x375.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf-1536x751.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ee3e069dbf10d425c17697cdfc6de5cf.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting involving university administrators as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"California State University Employees Union and the California Faculty Association...\" class=\"wp-image-5683\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac-1024x582.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac-1024x582.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac-300x171.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac-768x437.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac-1536x874.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7a4f3aae190a9b6e8dcfa9917fd8caac.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>California State University Employees Union and the California Faculty Association gather to participate   in a protest march at Sonoma State University, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in response to SSU\u2019s recent budget cuts and the immediate layoffs of the Information Technology staff. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Blue and red boxes, for Sonoma State University faculty and...\" class=\"wp-image-5684\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26-1024x564.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26-1024x564.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26-300x165.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26-768x423.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26-1536x846.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2a3863d3db061af3332bdb4661e07e26.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>Blue and red boxes, for Sonoma State University faculty and staff, symbolizing those being let go due to SSU\u2019s budget cuts, Thursday, March 6, 2025. About 100 people participated in a march around Stevenson Hall and eventually re stacked the boxes near the entrance of SSU\u2019s administration offices at Salazar Hall.  (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"California State University Employees Union and the California Faculty Association...\" class=\"wp-image-5685\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2-1024x579.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2-1024x579.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2-768x434.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2-1536x868.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bf1249079b6e555a99ad5f6b77f2f4b2.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>California State University Employees Union and the California Faculty Association participate in a protest march at Sonoma State University, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in response to SSU\u2019s recent budget cuts and the immediate layoffs of the Information Technology staff. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30,...\" class=\"wp-image-5686\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049-1024x557.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049-1024x557.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049-768x417.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049-1536x835.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c6c42e2bde29e95ea85b78097bb72049.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting to protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate faculty, degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire speaks during the...\" class=\"wp-image-5687\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62-1024x705.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62-1024x705.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62-300x206.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62-768x529.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62-1536x1057.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9ba973583e97588b00884a7158255f62.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat<\/div><div>California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire speaks during the Sonoma State Commitment Town Hall on the SSU campus in Rohnert Park on Monday, August 11, 2025.  (Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"California State Assembly member Chris Rogers speaks during the previous...\" class=\"wp-image-5688\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912-1024x680.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912-1024x680.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912-768x510.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912-1536x1021.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f24333a4a6f8f5c414b014516e250912.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat<\/div><div>California State Assembly member Chris Rogers speaks during the previous Sonoma State University Legislative Forum in Rohnert Park on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Christopher Chung\/The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University Interim President Emily Cutrer speaks to Press...\" class=\"wp-image-5689\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988-1024x683.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d1e2465c9d7966b811b5f4b93f740988.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Christopher Chung \/ The Press Democrat file<\/div><div>Sonoma State University Interim President Emily Cutrer speaks to Press Democrat reporters during an interview session in her office in Rohnert Park Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Christopher Chung \/ The Press Democrat file)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sonoma State University students gather to make \u00e2\u0080\u009cbroken heart valentine\u00e2\u0080\u009d...\" class=\"wp-image-5690\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56-1024x625.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56-1024x625.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56-300x183.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56-768x469.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56-1536x938.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9b5cea2b721b1f9230949d9bea0aae56.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>Sonoma State University students gather to make \u201cbroken heart valentine\u201d cards at Stevenson Hall, for SSU president Emily Cutrer, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2025.  The cards and a petition with 30,000 signatures was delivered to the presidents office.  (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><li><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"SSU Interim President Emily Cutrer, left to right, CSU CFO...\" class=\"wp-image-5691\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663-1024x660.webp\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663-1024x660.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663-300x193.webp 300w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663-768x495.webp 768w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663-1536x989.webp 1536w, https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d819631c074ed826bd2924562c8f1663.webp 1860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>John Burgess \/ The Press Democrat<\/div><div>SSU Interim President Emily Cutrer, left to right, CSU CFO Steve Relyea and CSU Deputy Vice Chancellor Nathan Evans answer questions from lawmakers at the second Sonoma State University Legislative Forum to discuss cuts to the school April 14, at the student center in Rohnert Park. (John Burgess \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/div><\/div><\/ul><div><button>Show Caption<\/button><div><span>1<\/span> of <span>10<\/span><\/div><div>Sonoma State University students jam Seawolf Plaza, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 during a virtual town hall meeting involving university administrators as students, parents and faculty protest $20 million in budget cuts which would eliminate degree programs and the entire athletic department. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/div><span>Expand<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Much of Sonoma State\u2019s budget crisis stemmed from plummeting enrollment over the past decade \u2014 the steepest decline of several struggling California State University campuses. The latest enrollment data for SSU showed a total of 5,651 students, an uptick after a further drop off last fall in the wake of the cuts.<\/p>\n<p>In practice for athletics, that means tapping the networks that were energized by the campaign to save SSU sports; finding ways to engage community before and after games, making broader use of facilities, and building out a base of philanthropic support that will be necessary to sustain the programming.<\/p>\n<p>Key to that will be the athletics development director, a first for SSU where before coaches would take on fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n<p>The feasibility team estimated start-up year expenses at $2.8 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which could be covered by state rescue funds, according to an  of the report shared by SSU. The group forecast $6 million to $7 million in annual costs for the first five years.<\/p>\n<p>According to  released by SSU, funding for athletics will come through a combination of the state money, existing student fees, expected net tuition revenue based on the number of new student athletes \u2014 the university anticipates a total of 186 athletes will fill its teams \u2014 community fundraising and sponsorships and fees from sports camps and outside use of campus sports facilities.\u00a0State funds will also be used to upgrade facilities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe proof will be in the pudding,\u201d Eyler said, and the university will do in-depth annual reviews and strategic planning. \u201cThe hope is we really get the momentum we need to lift all boats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eyler said SSU is open to adding more teams in the future as long as there is the financial backing, likely dependent on philanthropic means.<\/p>\n<p>Student athlete recruitment will start after coaching and support staff positions are filled. SSU invited former coaches to apply.<\/p>\n<p>Emiria Salzmann, who coached women\u2019s soccer at Sonoma State for 13 seasons before taking a similar job at the College of Marin \u2014 she\u2019s also a former Seawolves player who is in the school\u2019s Athletics Hall of Fame \u2014 is happy for the community, the school and the students who may now play sports at the local Cal State campus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just really believe in the moral, ethical and physical value of sports,\u201d Salzmann said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only important, but necessary, for the healthy development of the minds and bodies of students. And SSU is showing it believes in that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Salzmann said it was \u201cpainful\u201d to watch the elimination of the women\u2019s sports program she worked to sustain. She\u2019s thrilled it will be resurrected, but has questions about how this will all be implemented. \u201cWhat is the plan?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sterling, too, acknowledged there\u2019s a lot to be worked out \u2014 hiring coaches, recruiting talent, preparing facilities. But, for now, he said, it\u2019s time for the community to be positive, and perhaps to start thinking about ways to strengthen SSU\u2019s athletic programs. \u201cSports are back,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the only way sports stay is if we\u2019re 100% behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>You can reach senior reporter Marisa Endicott at 707-521-5470 or marisa.endicott@pressdemocrat.com. On X @marisaendicott and Facebook @InYourCornerTPD.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @Skinny_Post.<\/em><\/p><p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5659\">Carly Simon reveals Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis ahead of new album<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The long-anticipated decision on athletics at Sonoma State is in, with most sports set to return in the fall of 2027. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sonoma State University to restore most intercollegiate sports in 2027 - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5692\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sonoma State University to restore most intercollegiate sports in 2027 - 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