Every year, Division I schools gear up their programs to compete for conference and national titles. Every team receives a certain amount of money from their athletic department’s budget, and these numbers might vary for different types of sports.
Cal State Bakersfield focuses on equitability and ensuring that every program receives the necessary amount of money. On campus, the golf, cross-country, track and field and swimming and dive programs have all been recognized as “less funded,” but the coaching staff of each program continues to use what they have to the best of their ability while pushing for more equitability.
“Several factors can influence funding allocations, including team schedules, participation rates, level of competition, and travel requirements,” said Cindy Goodmon, the Deputy Athletic Director, Athletics Department’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and an administrator for a number of teams on campus. “Programs with higher student-athlete participation often warrant increased funding.”
Each sport has unique requirements for training, equipment, and facilities. CSUB athletics also considers the specific needs of each sport and how they align with conference goals. Godmon shared that change in revenue for sports team is dependent on the nature of teams’ progress and the amount of resources we are able to receive.
“The department is continually assessing our funding model to ensure it meets the needs of all teams. We’re committed to working diligently to support our teams with limited resources,” said Godmon.
Here is a look into the sports teams that receive less funding and how they combat the stuggles.
Cross-Country/Track & Field: “Bakersfield Grit”
Marcia Mansur-Wentworth began her 13th season in Fall 2024 as CSUB’s Director of Track and Field and 12th season at the helm of the women’s cross-country program. In regard to a lack of funding, Mansur-Wentworth takes a competitive approach to the team’s ability to compete regardless of financial issues. She expressed that adding a competitive facility is a “challenge the leadership is aware of and is a priority – like all capital projects these take time and money.”
Her main outlook is that they are a program that ultimately works with what they have.
“While we may lack a facility and a full allotment of staff- what we do have is an outstanding staff who works well together for the benefit of our student-athletes and following the Four Pillars of our athletic department,” said Mansur-Wentworth.
She adds that her staff has helped place athletes on the podium and score at the Big West Championships and even advance to the NCAA’s almost each year. Under her leadership her program has also molded a Big West Athlete of the Year, Miranda Miller, in 2022.
With Mansur-Wentworth’s mindset and enforcement of “Bakersfield Grit,” her programs will continue to perform at a high level every season, and with the addition of a new facility on campus.
Swim & Dive: A Storied Legacy
In June 2011, CSUB made a decision to make Chris Hansen, Director of swimming after three successful years as the head coach for the men’s swimming program..
Boasting an illustrious resume that consists of WAC Championships, National Invite Championships, All-Conference and All-American athletes, and multiple broken school and conference records. Hansen is no stranger to success, and after 17 years of proving what he is about as a leader of this program, he has already started a legacy on our campus that will last a lifetime.
Hansen explains that this success wouldn’t be possible without the unique mindset he and his staff exhibit, and it is able to allow his athlete and program as a whole to still compete at a high level no matter what setbacks may arise.
“As long as I am on the pool deck – my student athletes need to only worry about school and training; I’ll figure the rest out,” said Hansen when asked about the future of the funding for the program.
He mentions that while bigger renovations have taken longer than expected, the program has been able to recently install a new draining system and three new diving boards.
“Can we use more—of course, but it takes time. We ask when we need something, not when we want something,” Hansen says.
He adds that CSUB’s pool is one of the (if not the) best in the Big West, and it has been the headquarters for one of the most successful programs on our campus, seeing our athletes through to 3 World Championships, several Olympic Trials, the NCAA Championships, a team Conference title and numerous individual Conference titles. Ultimately, Hansen shares that his approach to funding of his program is a result of his mindset.
”Do I wish we had a bigger budget? Of course… you must think out of the box, you must fundraise. It’s about the student athletes not about me. A coach’s job is to make sure all student athletes feel the same love and have the same experience as the other,” he said.
Hansen has always put his athletes first, and this has helped him achieve feats some could only dream of. His mindset and constant longing to be better than yesterday is what has created this legacy. He is a believer that it’s the same mindset and work ethic that will continue that legacy, and a bigger budget with quicker renovations will only add to their already established success.
