Sonoma State University announced plans to reestablish its athletics program following its elimination approximately one year earlier. The university will field 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II teams starting in the 2027–28 academic year.
The restored programs will include women’s basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball, alongside men’s basketball, golf and soccer. Additionally, the university will reintroduce men’s cross-country, which had not been available to students for more than a decade. The university did not select baseball or women’s track and field for reinstatement.
The selection of these 10 sports reflects the university’s compliance with NCAA Division II requirements, which mandate that member institutions offer a minimum number of athletic programs. According to institutional materials, the chosen teams meet Title IX requirements, represent fiscally sustainable options and demonstrate the strongest potential for generating attendance and attracting philanthropic contributions.
The athletics program elimination occurred in June 2025 as part of broader institutional cost-reduction measures aimed at addressing a $24 million budget shortfall. Since that time, the university has secured $55 million in combined support from the California State Legislature and the California State University chancellor’s office. University leadership has characterized the athletics restoration as one of several successful examples of institutional “reimagining,” alongside the reintroduction of geology and physics undergraduate degrees and a new history master’s program.
University President Michael Spagna stated that athletics contribute to community engagement, institutional spirit and student recruitment. The university plans to begin recruiting athletes once coaching and administrative positions are filled, with former coaches encouraged to apply for their previous roles.
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