Cal Poly athletics director Don Oberhelman has announced that he will retire after 15 years leading the athletics program. He will remain in the role until his replacement is named or the end of the summer, whichever comes first.
From President Jeffrey Armstrong: “Don has embraced the Cal Poly hallmark of continued improvement and leaves our Athletics program significantly enhanced from the day he arrived. On behalf of our entire university community, I offer our sincere thanks to Don for his commitment to athletic and academic excellence and his unwavering support for our student-athletes over the years.”
In March, shortly after their conference championship meet, the school announced that they would cut the men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs effective immediately. In the 3 months since, swimmers, parents, and alumni have banded together to try and raise money to save the program.
They have faced a moving target from Oberhelman, who cited the cost of the House v. NCAA settlement, finalized on Friday, as the primary driver for cutting the program. In spite of that, the school first demanded fundraising of $25 million to save the program, which was then lowered to $20 million, in spite of the fact that the endowment return from those levels of fundraising would far exceed the $450,000 annually cited as the reason for the cut.
As of early May, the group had raised around $7.5 million. Several of their highest-profile swimmers have begun transferring to other programs.
SwimSwam has reached out to the group attempting to save the program as to whether they’ve received any information about whether the change will impact the future of the swim program.
Historically, the three avenues where programs have had success in salvaging their futures after a cut was announced have been big fundraising (Arizona State), making a Title IX case (Iowa), or a change in leadership (William & Mary), though none of those three avenues have led to sure-fire results.
Oberhelman took over athletics at Cal Poly in 2011. During that time, Cal Poly teams have won 54 conference championships and the school’s Graduation Success Rate has gone from 71% to 93%.
The school has made $100 million in renovations to athletics facilities in that time period.
Oberhelman has served in a number of NCAA and conference leadership roles, including the first NCAA Division I Council. The 40-member Council is charged with managing the new governance structure, the many changes taking place in college athletics, and the day-to-day decision making for all of Division I. In April 2015, he was appointed by the NCAA to chair the newly formed NCAA Division I Legislative Committee to review legislation and communicate positions to the Division I Council.
Prior to Cal Poly, he worked in athletics at San Diego State, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, and Florida State.
Friggin’ reinstate the teams NOW!
I so hope the swim team is reinstated in short order as I have a 2026 who is not committed yet but would consider CP if there was a team even if it’s a rebuilding year or two.
This is where Armstrong can do right by his student athletes and reinstate the team. Give them a proper runway to raise money and prove themselves.
It seems it would be an easy win for him, for the community and the sport. Especially since they’ve already raised funds for the next few years.
Do the right thing President Armstrong. You have nothing to lose.
Way to pull the ladder up behind you on your way out the door!
If you’ve ever worked under these types in your coaching career then you just know this guy was the WORST person to work under. I bet he made everything miserable for the coaching staff and the student athletes; and then he retires with a wreckage behind him. Smh. The worst.
He did, unless you were one of the “good ol’ boys.”
Terrible. This guy is the definition of low.
Candy Arse
Good riddance. Make room for someone who actually works instead of making excuses not to work. Armstrong’s comments are ludicrous.