CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The University of Akron will bring back its baseball program next year, five years after it was eliminated in the midst of financial turmoil.

Trustees approved the revival of the program in 2017, under former President Matthew Wilson. UA’s financial status is still perilous, though not quite as dire. The university expects to cut $15 million in its next budget. In 2015, UA made $40 million in cuts, including layoffs.

There needs to be a complete overhaul of the field where the team will practice and play. The school is also appealing to alumni to privately fund scholarships.

The athletic department already raised $1.7 million to bring back baseball, $1 million of which will kick off major reconstruction of the field.

“(When baseball ended) it was an emotional time, (there were) very passionate pleas to reconsider," athletic director Larry Williams said.

Who made the $1 million donation?

William Skeeles, the CEO of PointeNorth Insurance Group and a former UA baseball player, and his wife Mary gave the school $1 million to start renovations on what will become “Skeeles Field.”

Skeeles was a first-generation student from Eastern Ohio who built a support network through baseball. After graduation, he remained active in the alumni community for athletics and donated to the school.

“The way I looked at it, I got a higher education (experience) which opened my eyes to more things in the world that were available to me,” he said.

Athletics staff told Skeeles the field was the most crucial part of bringing back the program. One side of the field is about four feet lower than the other because of water damage, Williams said. The team won’t play all its games on that field, but when it’s covered in turf, intramural teams and other activities will use it as well.

The school will need to raise another $1 million to finish renovations on stadium.

How much will regular operations cost?

UA hired Chris Sabo, a former Cincinnati Reds player, as head coach. His base salary for 2018-19 is $60,000. There is also assistant coach and a part-time assistant coach. Coaching costs, including benefits, total $134,735, according to UA documents.

Other expenses include travel, recruiting and supplies. For the 2018-19 year, costs come to $184,745.

For the 2019-20 year, the cost increases to $245,245, without accounting for a potential bump in Sabo’s salary. Sabo is eligible for a raise next year, according to his contract.

Field maintenance costs $65,000, covered by the athletics department.

For comparison, when the team played in 2014-15, total expenses were $263,787, not including $284,933 in scholarships split between 28 players, according to reports made to the NCAA. The athletics department currently has one endowed scholarship available.

Revenues reported in 2014-15 were $23,273. Listed on the NCAA report were in-kind donations, revenue from a baseball camp, and $6,194 in giving specifically designated for baseball. William said that doesn’t account for tuition, room and board payments from players, plus the opportunities the team offers to students, as statisticians or trainers.

UA hopes to attract 35 players for the team.

Another bonus, Williams said, is visibility for the university through competing in Division I baseball.

“America speaks sports, culturally, it’s a universal language. The ability for us to tell the Akron story through sports is really valuable. Immeasurable, but really valuable.”