Members of NIU’s Athletic Board approved a $9,000 budget increase Wednesday to cover the printing of the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball posters and schedule cards.

The Coors beer company was the original sponsor but pulled out of their contract this summer.

At the Athletic Board meeting, NIU’s Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said he did not know why Coors backed out of the contract.

“I was not involved in the negotiations,” O’Dell said.

Coors originally signed the three-year contract, which also included football, in the spring of 1989. The contract included the production of thousands of pocket schedules and counter cards for the four “Level I” NIU sports. The production of these items was to cost Coors $75,000 over the three year period.

This season’s posters and schedule cards were printed before the Board’s approval of the budget increase, even though the contract was terminated this summer.

O’Dell said an attempt to gain sponsorship with other companies was made, but NIU was unable to pick one up.

“What we need is more money,” O’Dell said. “We need to increase the budget for fiscal year ‘91.”

Money for the budget increase will come from additional revenue brought in from this season’s NIU football program which O’Dell said gained more money than expected.

O’Dell said that, in the future, NIU will budget for these items first and if sponsorship is secured, it will free up those dollars for other uses.

O’Dell said the Board’s decision to approve the budget will not affect any of the spring sports.

None of the Board members voted against the proposal.