Haskell women's basketball coach heads to NAIA National Championship despite DOGE cuts

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- A foundation at Haskell Indian Nations University is raising money to try to hire back laid off workers. The federally funded University lost about 40 staff members including instructors, IT and coaches.

The Trump Administration's federal DOGE cuts have impacted tens of thousands of mostly probationary employees nationwide. But a basketball coach just as his team was heading into the conference tournament may be among the most surprising.

"To be honest when you have a passion about your job you kind of lose sight of an income but when you have a wife at home that looks over the finances it brings you back to reality rather quick," Haskell Women's Basketball Coach Adam Strom said.

He didn't tell the team about the news that came on Valentine's Day until after senior night the next night. He promised the team he would continue on a volunteer basis.

"We all had our eye on the big prize and we were very grateful that he made the decision and help lead us to the championship," senior guard Mikeya Sheppard said.

The team captured the Continental Athletic Conference Championship Sunday defeating Northern New Mexico in a game played on campus. It gave the university's about 900 Native American students reason to cheer after spending much of the past month protesting the cuts that have left some students without instructors in the middle of the semester.

"At a university where there's already struggles to make sure adequate funding is provided, these have definitely added an additional roadblock or bump in the road that we are trying to find creative solutions to," Haskell Foundation Board of Trustees President Bo Schneider said.

The Haskell Foundation has launched an emergency fundraiser to raise $350,000 and has already raised nearly $130,000. It includes temporary contract extensions for part-time coaches, bus drivers, custodial staff, dining services, and general staff to maintain essential campus functions for at least three months.

With a focus on spring seasons just getting going and being able to fund the basketball teams travel to the NAIA National Tournament, it's unclear whether Coach Strom will get any of that money. But he's focused on the task at hand and already recruiting for next season in hopes he will have a funded coaching position.

"We are in a win or go home situation. There's 64 teams. So I hope I have 6 more games of unpaid coaching," Strom smiled.

"I think its awesome I think this is a time we can use to really get our story out to people and show that we are still here and we still do exist and we are resilient people and we can fight through adversity," Sheppard said.

They will find out who they are playing in the tournament on Thursday. Coach Strom predicts they will likely be a #16 seed taking on a #1 seed. But if this season has proven anything, it may not be wise to count this team out.