Dear FDLTCC Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I wanted to share with you that, after extensive deliberation, I have made the difficult decision to discontinue the athletics program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. This decision includes men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball.

Following conversations with campus leadership, the college’s athletic director, head coaches, staff, and faculty, it has been determined that funding currently used for athletics should be reallocated to provide new opportunities to benefit a larger percentage of students. Next week, student leadership will be consulted regarding future programming ideas.

In the past few years, the college has conducted an extensive, ongoing review of the Thunder Athletics program. Our coaching staff and other key college personnel have worked incredibly hard to try to increase the number of student-athletes participating on our teams and to expand student and community interest in attending games. Unfortunately, the continued low engagement in athletics and high number of forfeited seasons over the last five years – both before and after the COVID pandemic – have had a significant negative impact on our limited college budget.

I did not make this difficult decision lightly. I know this change causes significant challenges for our current student-athletes, coaches, and other supporters in our FDLTCC community. I, and the rest of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College community, appreciate the hard work and dedication of each of our coaches, volunteers, and student-athletes, and I know this development may impact some of our students’ future collegiate plans.

Finally, to this year’s student-athletes, I want to express my personal gratitude to you for being a part of our Thunder Athletics community. The discontinuation of our athletic programs is in no way a reflection on you and your accomplishments. We are proud of you.

-Acting President, Anita Hanson