THE SIDELINES : Stanford Cuts Athletic Budget

The Stanford Athletic Department announced planned cutbacks Tuesday that should trim about $1 million a year from its $22-million budget.

Cuts in the track and field program were informally announced last month, and they will account for about half the overall reduction in spending. Twenty-five scholarships are being cut, but Athletic Director Andy Geiger said all track and field athletes with scholarships now will keep them.

The university announced last month that it planned to cut $22 million from its budget over the next 18 months, with one reason for the move being the need to spend millions to repair facilities damaged in the Oct. 17 earthquake.

The athletic program cuts will be in the sports of track and field, wrestling, field hockey and sailing. Coaching positions in sailing and field hockey are being eliminated.

“None of the sports that have been reclassified have been discontinued. We intend to have the sports if possible, albeit on a lesser basis,” Geiger said.