GO, THE TEAM DECIDED TO GO OUT SWINGING. AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY, MEN’S GOLF COACH BLAKE TRIMBLE IS PACKING UP HIS HARDWARE. HIS MEMORIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE LAST THREE YEARS. YES, IT’S TOUGH TO TOUGH TO PUT INTO WORDS, BUT YEAH, IT’S VERY EMOTIONAL. NONE. THAT MEANS MORE THAN THE LATEST ONE BECAUSE IT’S ALSO THE LAST ONE. I SAID, I DON’T KNOW IF WE’LL BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR PROGRAM, BUT LET’S AT LEAST GO OUT AND WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. IN NOVEMBER, THE UNIVERSITY SENT OUT A SHOCKING STATEMENT. THEY NOTIFIED THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF TEAMS THEY WOULD BE CUT FROM THE BUDGET AFTER THE 2020 526 SEASON. THEY’VE NEVER MENTIONED THAT WE WERE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, SO IT WAS JUST A SHOCK TO EVERYBODY, AND THIS ISN’T CUTTING A WEEK OR LACKLUSTER LEG OF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. MEN’S GOLF HAS A RECORD 12 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE WOMEN’S PROGRAM, NATIONAL CHAMPS, EIGHT TIMES. KIDS WANT TO COME HERE AND WANT TO GET BETTER HERE. AND SO YEAH, SO THAT’S WHY I WAS SURPRISING JUST BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY. SUDDENLY, PLAYERS RECRUITED FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WERE GOING TO BE WITHOUT A PLACE TO PLAY. THEY STARTED LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES. BUT RATHER THAN LEAVE RIGHT THEN, THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD STICK AROUND FOR ONE. LAST SPRING SEASON, IT LIT A LITTLE BIT OF A FIRE WHEN EVERYBODY DECIDED TO COME BACK TOGETHER. IT WAS WE. WE HAD ONE END GOAL. I MEAN, IT WAS WE HAD TO GO OUT WITH A BANG. AND THERE WAS THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT. SOPHOMORE JACK NEWTON SAYS HE’S EXCITED TO TRANSFER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, BUT HE WOULD HAVE RATHER STAYED. IT JUST KIND OF FEELS LIKE THEY DON’T WANT US HERE. WE TRIED TO BUDGET, WE TRIED TO FUNDRAISE. NONE OF US WANTED TO LEAVE HERE. I GET THAT THE SCHOOL HAD BUDGET CUTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL HAD THINGS TO DO, BUT DON’T CUT TEAMS. WHEN THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE DECISION CAME DOWN TO THE COST STRUCTURE OF GOLF PRACTICE AND COMPETITION, PRESENTING UNIQUE CHALLENGES. IT’S TOUGH, IT’S EMOTIONAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THE THING THAT KEEPS A SMILE ON MY FACE IS JUST THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT ON TOP AND, AND HAVE A GOOD MEMORY, A GOOD LAST MEMORY OF THE OF THE TEAM AND OF THE PROGRAM. COACH IS DISAPPOINTED, PACKING UP HIS OFFICE, KNOWING HIS TEAM STILL HAD A LOT TO GIVE, BUT HE’S ALSO PROUD OF WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVE. IT’S JUST A SHAME THAT THEY DIDN’T GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. SO THE PLAYERS ON BOTH THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS ARE LOOKING TO TRANSFER TO OTHER SCHOOLS, JUNIORS AND SENIORS WHO DECIDE TO STAY AT OCU WILL SEE THEIR
Oklahoma City University golf teams conclude final season after funding cuts
Oklahoma City University’s men’s and women’s golf teams played their last season after the university announced it would discontinue the programs due to budgetary challenges
Updated: 4:21 PM CDT May 27, 2026
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Oklahoma City University’s men’s and women’s golf teams ended their final season after the university announced it would discontinue funding for the programs following the 2025-2026 season. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterMen’s golf coach Blake Trimble reflected on the emotional end to the program as he packed up his office. “Yeah, it’s just tough to put into words, but yeah, it’s very emotional,” Trimble said. The men’s team, which holds a record 12 national championships, and the women’s team, with eight national titles, were notified of the decision in November. “They never mentioned we were even on the chopping block, so it was just a shock to everybody,” Trimble said. Players recruited from across the country faced the sudden reality of needing to find new opportunities. Despite this, they chose to stay for one last spring season to finish strong. Sophomore Jack Newton, who is transferring to the University of Wyoming, said the team united around a shared goal. “It lit a little bit of a fire. When everyone decided to come back together, it was, we had one end goal, we had to go out with a bang, and there was no other way to do it,” Newton said. Newton expressed frustration over the decision, noting the team’s efforts to find solutions. “It just kind of feels like they don’t want us here. We tried to budget, we tried to fundraise, none of us wanted to leave here,” Newton said. “I get that the school had budget cuts, I understand the school had things to do, but don’t cut teams that win.”The university explained that the decision was driven by financial challenges. “Unfortunately, the cost structure of golf practice and competition presents unique challenges,” the university said. As Trimble packed up trophies and memories from the last three years, he expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments despite the circumstances. “It’s tough, it’s emotional, but, like I said, the thing that keeps a smile on my face is the fact we were able to go out on top and have a good last memory of the team and of the program,” Trimble said. While juniors and seniors who remain at OCU will have their scholarships honored as they complete their degrees, players from both teams are now seeking new opportunities to continue their golf careers. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”It’s just a shame they didn’t give us an opportunity to try and make things better,” Trimble said.Top Headlines Suspect dead after Moore police chase ends with TVI, shots fired near I-35 in Norman 5 villagers stuck in flooded Laos cave for more than a week found alive, 2 still missing Police investigate deadly shooting at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Seasoning sold at Walmart recalled nationwide over salmonella risk DPS: Man accused of causing deadly wrong-way crash on I-40 did not have legal immigration status
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma City University’s men’s and women’s golf teams ended their final season after the university announced it would discontinue funding for the programs following the 2025-2026 season.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
Men’s golf coach Blake Trimble reflected on the emotional end to the program as he packed up his office.
“Yeah, it’s just tough to put into words, but yeah, it’s very emotional,” Trimble said.
The men’s team, which holds a record 12 national championships, and the women’s team, with eight national titles, were notified of the decision in November.
“They never mentioned we were even on the chopping block, so it was just a shock to everybody,” Trimble said.
Players recruited from across the country faced the sudden reality of needing to find new opportunities. Despite this, they chose to stay for one last spring season to finish strong.
Sophomore Jack Newton, who is transferring to the University of Wyoming, said the team united around a shared goal.
“It lit a little bit of a fire. When everyone decided to come back together, it was, we had one end goal, we had to go out with a bang, and there was no other way to do it,” Newton said.
Newton expressed frustration over the decision, noting the team’s efforts to find solutions.
“It just kind of feels like they don’t want us here. We tried to budget, we tried to fundraise, none of us wanted to leave here,” Newton said. “I get that the school had budget cuts, I understand the school had things to do, but don’t cut teams that win.”
The university explained that the decision was driven by financial challenges.
“Unfortunately, the cost structure of golf practice and competition presents unique challenges,” the university said.
As Trimble packed up trophies and memories from the last three years, he expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments despite the circumstances.
“It’s tough, it’s emotional, but, like I said, the thing that keeps a smile on my face is the fact we were able to go out on top and have a good last memory of the team and of the program,” Trimble said.
While juniors and seniors who remain at OCU will have their scholarships honored as they complete their degrees, players from both teams are now seeking new opportunities to continue their golf careers.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“It’s just a shame they didn’t give us an opportunity to try and make things better,” Trimble said.
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