SAN FRANCISCO — Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said Wednesday that he expects a "large number" of cuts coming at the school to deal with a projected $5 million in lost revenue over the next three years.

"We will announce our actions as they are implemented," Bowlsby told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "As you know, we are highly dependent on endowment earnings so we will have to make a large number of reductions in the coming months."

Bowlsby didn't specify what those reductions might be, but he responded a day after a meeting with coaches and athletic department officials focused on Stanford's financial situation. The session provided a heads-up regarding staff cuts and the possible elimination of some athletic teams.

The school is expected to decide in the next 30 to 60 days on job cuts. Eliminating teams is likely to be a last resort.

Stanford has one of the nation's biggest athletic departments with 35 varsity sports — 19 for women, 15 for men and one coed squad.

Last year, the university captured its 14th consecutive Division I U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup. The recognition is presented annually to the best overall program in each athletic division in the country.

In December, Stanford announced senior administrators, including the president and provost, would take salary cuts in the wake of the economic downturn. Provost John Etchemendy and President John Hennessy volunteered to reduce their salaries by 10 percent.

University spokeswoman Lisa Lapin said at the time the salary cuts affected about 15 to 20 positions with salaries that start around $250,000. She said Hennessy made about $700,000.