Oxnard College ‘Working Hardest’ on Saving Its Athletic Program

The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees approved the district’s $63.5-million tentative budget Tuesday night, but it remains unclear how the Oxnard College athletic department fits into the budget’s broad guidelines.

Oxnard initially trimmed $850,000 from its budget, and the athletic program might fall victim to further cuts necessary to bring the school within the budget numbers, said Ruth Hemming, Oxnard vice president of student services and the administrative athletic representative.

“They give you a bottom-line figure, and we have to balance the bottom line,” said Hemming. “What we’re doing is trying to find other options. No one wants to suspend the athletic program.”

Hemming said, “We’re working hardest” on saving the athletic program. “It’s the last thing we want to cut. It’s the first thing we’ll throw money at.”

After cutting the first $850,000, the school has since cut another $115,000 of a further planned reduction of $625,000, Hemming said.

The additional $625,000 is needed to bring Oxnard within its $10.7-million allotment of the district budget, Hemming said. The yearly athletic budget is $260,000, according to Athletic Director Ralph Smith.

Hemming called the current budget numbers “realistic” but said they could improve or worsen. The final budget will be determined in August, but a school budget committee is meeting nearly daily and hopes to make a decision on athletics by the middle of June, Hemming said.

“We need a decision as quick as we can possibly make it because there are too many people hanging,” Hemming said.

One of those people is baseball Coach Dave Taylor. Because Taylor was hired as an emergency replacement when Lindsay Meggs left as Oxnard coach for Long Beach City last September, Oxnard reopened the coaching position after the baseball season.

Taylor said he was one of five coaches scheduled for interviews, but that the interviews have been put on hold until the future of the department is resolved.

“They’re not hiring a baseball coach right now so I’m looking elsewhere to find some opportunities,” Taylor said. “I’m not the baseball coach right now.”

Ironically, while the athletic program struggles for existence, Hemming said Oxnard is still planning to break ground later this year on a $6.7-million gymnasium. The facility, however, is considered an instructional building rather than an intercollegiate athletic facility.