California Baptist University Cuts Men's Swimming and Diving Program

The university cites the need for change to achieve greater competitive excellence as it navigates the Division I landscape.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a college swimming competition, with sharp planes of deep blue, teal, and navy colors representing the complex challenges facing the sport.The difficult decision to cut CBU's men's swimming and diving program reflects the complex financial and competitive pressures facing universities in the Division I era.San Diego Today

California Baptist University has announced the discontinuation of its men's swimming and diving program at the end of the current season. The decision comes as the university transitions to Division I athletics, aiming to adapt to the evolving landscape of intercollegiate sports. The move has sparked controversy, as the program has seen recent success with NCAA-qualifying swimmers.

Why it matters

The decision to cut the men's swimming and diving program at CBU highlights the financial and operational challenges faced by institutions as they transition to Division I athletics. This trend is not unique to CBU, with other universities like Queens University and UC San Diego also having to make tough decisions about their athletic programs.

The details

The men's swimming and diving program at CBU has seen success in recent years, with two individual swimmers, Remi Fabiani and Mark Kovacsics, earning NCAA invites in their respective events. Fabiani, who transferred to ASU at the start of the season, is currently leading the country in the men's 200-meter freestyle, while Kovacsics, a senior, recently achieved a season-best time in the 500-meter freestyle. However, the university's transition to Division I in 2018, followed by the discontinuation of the men's volleyball program, has set a precedent for the challenges faced by institutions in this evolving athletic landscape.

  • CBU announced the discontinuation of its men's swimming and diving program on April 10, 2026.
  • The program will be cut at the end of the current 2025-2026 season.

The players

Remi Fabiani

A swimmer who transferred to ASU at the start of the season and is currently leading the country in the men's 200-meter freestyle.

Mark Kovacsics

A senior swimmer at CBU who recently achieved a season-best time in the 500-meter freestyle.

California Baptist University

A university that has made the decision to cut its men's swimming and diving program as it navigates the transition to Division I athletics.

Queens University

A university that once a Division II powerhouse, merged with Elon University after transitioning to Division I.

UC San Diego

A university that cut its diving program to focus on swimming after transitioning to Division I.

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What’s next

As CBU prepares for its transition to the Big West conference in July 2026, the decision to cut the men's swimming and diving program will be a key factor in the university's efforts to balance the pursuit of competitive excellence with the financial and operational demands of Division I athletics.

The takeaway

The decision to cut the men's swimming and diving program at CBU highlights the broader challenges faced by institutions as they navigate the transition to Division I athletics. This trend is not unique to CBU, with other universities also having to make tough decisions about their athletic programs in order to achieve greater competitive excellence and financial stability.