While BYU is known for many of its athletic programs, several sports have been discontinued at the university.
Sports like wrestling, men’s gymnastics and varsity hockey have disappeared from the lineup.
During the 1999–2000 season, wrestling and gymnastics were phased out over the course of a year. Both programs, which had strong traditions on campus, were removed following a decline in sponsorship.
Men’s gymnastics, for example, had 41 teams competing nationally in the 1992–93 season, but only 27 by 1997–98.
“This has been a very difficult decision, but one that had to be made,” BYU Advancement Vice President K. Fred Skousen said at the time of the programs' discontinuation. “Across the country, fewer schools are sponsoring men’s gymnastics and wrestling teams. The trend is particularly apparent in our new Mountain West Conference, where even before BYU's decision there were not enough teams in wrestling and men’s gymnastics to conduct an NCAA qualifying conference championship.”
Despite efforts to keep both programs alive — and successful seasons in both — they were eventually removed and have not returned.
More recently, BYU’s hockey team was disbanded in 2022.
For 15 years, BYU hockey players competed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, wearing the university’s logo and representing BYU on the national club circuit under a contractual agreement with the university.
However, due to Title IX compliance concerns — and the absence of a corresponding women’s team — BYU chose to withdraw its official endorsement of the program.
“It was tough not wearing your school’s logo and not being able to call yourselves the Brigham Young University Cougars,” said David Pitcher, who coached the team from 2014 until its disbandment. “Since BYU allowed us to represent the school in that way, we’ve done our best to uphold the standards of the university and conduct ourselves in a way that the university and the students can be proud of.”
That disbanded team, however, made a temporary return on Feb. 20 in an alumni game against the University of Utah at the Utah Mammoth Ice Center. The Cougars defeated the Utes 11–6, a successful, if momentary, return to the ice.
While these programs are no longer part of BYU’s current lineup, their impact on campus athletics and student life remains.
Wrestling, men’s gymnastics and hockey each brought generations of student-athletes, coaches and fans together, shaping traditions and memories that still resonate today.
Though the Cougars have moved on to new opportunities and sports, the legacy of these discontinued programs serves as a reminder of the university’s rich athletic history — and the enduring passion of the students who once competed with BYU's logo.