Purdue Fort Wayne announced it will discontinue its baseball and softball programs due to budget challenges across the university and changes in the NCAA model. This decision is part of a broader initiative involving $6 million in budget cuts. The Mastodons are members of the Horizon League and Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, sponsoring 14 Division I sports.
Statement from Athletic Director
"This is one of the saddest days in my 25 years as a Mastodon," said athletic director Kelley Hartley Hutton. "We know this news will upset our student-athletes, alumni, and fans. It was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition."
Reasons for the Decision
- Budget Challenges: The university is facing significant financial constraints.
- NCAA Model Changes: Recent changes in the NCAA structure prompted a re-evaluation of the athletic program.
Hartley Hutton emphasized the collaborative effort in reaching this decision: "We have been working closely with our coaches, staff members, and student-athletes for several months on this difficult decision. We appreciate their dedication to Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics during this challenging time."
Future Considerations
While there are currently no immediate plans for additional cuts beyond baseball and softball, Hartley Hutton stated that the university will continue to monitor its financial situation.
"We will continue to work closely with our leadership team at Purdue University Fort Wayne as well as other stakeholders within higher education athletics," she said. "We remain committed to providing opportunities for students from all backgrounds through athletics."
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
