In one response to the Cherry Bekaert assessment report on East Carolina University finances and athletics, ECU interim chancellor Dan Gerlach did not mince his words in guaranteeing that the Pirates leaving the American Athletic Conference is not an option. UConn and East Carolina are among the teams nationwide facing athletic budget deficits in the millions of dollars, thus needing other university money for support. The Pirates, who according to the Cherry Bekaert report faced an athletics budget projected annual net deficit of $11.9 million for this fiscal year and an $11.4 million deficit in 2020, received funds to balance their budget and have an approved athletics budget through 2020.
http://www.reflector.com/ECU/2019/08/11/Gerlach-Leaving-AAC-not-an-option.html
