University of Louisiana athletics operated at a $5.3 million deficit for fiscal year 2022, according to documents obtained by The Daily Advertiser.

Per an annual financial audit conducted by the state of Louisiana issued in late January, Louisiana athletics brought in $33 million in revenue between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, while operating costs and expenses totaled $38.3 million.

While the UL athletics department's deficit grew by more than $4 million over the 2022 fiscal year from 2021, the increaseses in spending on salaries with a football coaching change and the financial impact of COVID-19 are expected to level off in the future.

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Here are some takeaways from the school's athletics financial audit:

Cost of recruiting going back up

UL, like all other athletic departments during fiscal year 2021, was constricted on recruiting, which resulted in a much smaller tab as virtual visits and other non-contact methods were utilized.

As contract and travel have reopened, the Cajuns' spending has increased. Sports teams combined to spend $450,000 more in 2022 to recruit than in the year before.

Louisiana football loses money in New Orleans Bowl game

Despite the proximity of its bowl destination, Louisiana lost money competing against Marshall in the New Orleans Bowl in December 2021.

Playing in the bowl game cost UL $356,325, salary bonuses for coaches included, while the payout was just $129,320 making for a $227,005 loss.

Even with bowl game distribution from the Sun Belt Conference, which totaled $223,016, the Cajuns still finished $3,989 in the red.

Louisiana football coach Michael Desormeaux, other coaches earn more money

There was a coaching change in football. While it didn't drive a large bill, UL's athletic department spending on coaches and support staff increased from $8.25 to $8.33 million.

Current Ragin' Cajuns football coach Michael Desormeaux saw the biggest leap in compensation, going from $185,000 as an assistant in 2021 under former coach Billy Napier to signing a five-year, $3.875 million contract to take over. Salaries for the basketball staffs of men's coach Bob Marlin and women's coach Gary Broadhead also ticked up.

Where pay increased the most was with football support staff. The department shelled out $1.37 million, a more than $400,000 increase from fiscal year 2021.

Ragin' Cajuns see jolt in ticket sales

It's true, COVID-19 and limited capacity affected some sports, but the positive was that ticket sales were up across the board for Louisiana in the 2022 fiscal year.

Ticket sales for football during the 2021 increased $1.2 million to more than $1.5 million. Every other sport except men's basketball reported ticket sales that doubled the previous year.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: University of Louisiana athletics lost $5.3 million in fiscal year '22