ATHLETICS CAMPAIGN

Dear Friends,

The student-athletes in our programs are so appreciative of the resources and the

facilities we provide for them. I am excited about the CSU First Choice Campaign

because I feel we need to begin to do more for our student-athletes. The projects we

have targeted will certainly go a long way toward letting them know that there is a very

high commitment from Columbus State University, alumni, fans, and friends, and will

especially showcase that CSU Athletics plays an important role in developing Columbus

State University as a First Choice for all students.

At Columbus State University, winning teams and exceptional student-athletes have

become the norm. While we continue to have great success, the margin of excellence

continues to be narrowed as funding for athletic scholarship and operational budgets

has decreased programmatically over the last few years. The addition of new programs

has been beneficial in diversifying our sport offerings, but has come as a result of

existing programs operating with significantly fewer operating and scholarship dollars.

With most of our teams having less than fifty percent of the maximum allowable

scholarships available to distribute at the Division II level, we are reliant on our coaches

and staff being extremely resourceful in the usage of funds. While this has served us well

in recent years, our ability to compete at the very high level we have come to expect,

without enhanced funding for our programs will be severely hampered and challenged.

Go Cougars!

Todd Reeser

Director of Athletics

Building Champions for Today and Leaders for Tomorrow

Today’s Cougars are tomorrow’s leaders, and the time student-athletes spend on

the Columbus State University campus is a crucial period of learning and growth. In

addition to helping ensure success on the playing surface, the CSU Department of

Intercollegiate Athletics also offers educational support programs that position student-

athletes for success after they leave campus. Scholarship support, 21st century facilities

and resources, and a supportive learning environment are necessary for preparing

today’s Cougars for their future – in communities and professions throughout Georgia

and beyond. Through support of identified campaign priorities, we will build upon the

pride of representing our university as a First Choice for deserving student-athletes.

With 15 NCAA Division II teams, the Columbus State University Athletics program is a

vital part of the university and greater Columbus community. The university is dedicated

to the personal and professional development of student-athletes, challenging them to

compete at the highest level on the field and in the classroom. The commitment has led

to our student-athletes possessing some of the most impressive academic and athletic

credentials in the Peach Belt Conference.

CSU Athletics strives to provide student-athletes with an exceptional university experience

culminating in graduation, ensure our teams compete for Peach Belt Conference

(PBC) and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championships; bring national exposure to

the Columbus community; and grant fans, alumni, and supporters a place to unite,

connect, and celebrate the university.

Transformational philanthropy from our Cougar supporters is crucial in helping student-

athletes graduate from the Columbus State University while competing in championship-

caliber intercollegiate athletics. The overall well-being of the participants on all of our

Cougar teams and the integrity of the program will remain paramount in all that we do.

Our Campaign Vision: CSU’s Athletic Department strives to become a premier Division II athletic program, nationally recognized for its athletic competitiveness and the outstanding academic accomplishments of its student-athletes. We strive to consistently win Peach Belt Conference championships and the Commissioner’s Cup, advance in NCAA post-season competition, while representing CSU with class, character, and pride. The combination of academic and athletic excellence of our program will synergize a campus environment that is exciting and engaging; instilling pride in all who support the Cougars.

Our funding priorities to accomplish our strategic vision are to invest in:

First-Choice Programs

•Annual Cougar Club Support – $500,000

The Cougar Club is the fundraising program for CSU Athletics. The athletics

program receives no state funding and is heavily reliant on charitable and

generated support to provide the margin of excellence for our athletic teams.

Gifts to the Cougar Club, which provides support to the general athletics budget

and to the student-athlete scholarship program, are essential in helping talented

student-athletes realize their athletic and academic dreams. Though Cougar

teams are highly competitive, our sport programs award scholarship far below

the maximum allowable for NCAA Division II programs. By providing additional

scholarship support, our coaches can recruit an even higher caliber of student-

athlete to represent Columbus State University.

•CSU Athletic Performance Center – $2.25 million

The 5,000 square foot CSU Athletic Performance Center, which will be located

adjacent to the Lumpkin Center, will provide facilities that will continue to allow

CSU Athletics to attract the best student-athletes to Columbus State University.

The department focus has always been in providing student-athletes’ with the very

best in academic support, fitness training, and sports medicine care. The current

facilities we enlist for these areas today are not sufficient for our goal of being a

First Choice in student-athlete welfare programming. The center will undoubtedly

enhance recruiting efforts; while training, developing, and caring for our student-

athletes in their academic and athletic pursuits.

First-Choice Places

•Key Golf Studio and Golf Complex – $2 million

Thanks to visionary supporters, the Key Golf

Studio will open in spring 2015, giving the

Cougar men’s and women’s golf teams

an opportunity to practice year-round and

continue to compete with the best nationally.

Funding will allow for the renovation of the

building adjacent to the Studio to be serve as

the headquarters for tennis offices and locker

rooms for our men’s and women’s programs.

Ongoing support will help ensure the Cougar

golfers of tomorrow will continue to benefit

from this first-class training and practice facility.

•Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field – $1.15 million The university’s baseball stadium was built in 1970 as Cougar Field and

renovated in 1990 and 1996. Now named in honor of Charles F. Ragsdale,

Columbus State’s first baseball coach, the stadium is due for another upgrade to

make the visitor experience more enjoyable and add to the sports fan culture at

CSU. The next chapter of the baseball complex is targeted for several fan friendly

amenities and enhancements. When completed, an attractive cantilevered roof

over the 550 individual chair back seats will provide shade and an unobstructed

view of the beautiful Ragsdale Field playing surface. A combination brick and

aluminum façade, ticket booth, and new ornamental fencing will welcome fans

to the home of Cougar Baseball. The baseball complex will be officially named

Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field, in honor of significant investments from

Columbus’ Schuster Enterprises, which operates more than 60 Burger King

restaurants in the Southeast.

•New tennis complex

(in partnership with the city of Columbus and CORTA) – $1.75 million Columbus State University is partnering with the city of Columbus and the

Columbus Regional Tennis Association (CORTA) to expand one of the country’s

premier public tennis facilities at Cooper Creek Park. This $9 million expansion

will embrace the growth of organized and recreational tennis in this region. The

new facilities will provide a headquarters for the nationally prominent men’s and

women’s tennis teams; regularly ranked among the nation’s best. Plans include

adding 12 hard courts, 10 rubico courts and a new clubhouse, providing a world-

class home for players and spectators of CSU tennis. The additions also expand

the city’s and the university’s ability to host regional and national tennis events,

and enable the city to better handle the growing interest in tennis, evidenced by

a 3,863% increase in CORTA participation over the past 26 years.

Summary of Campaign Priorities:

•AthleticPerformanceCenter. . . . . . . . .$2.25 Million

•KeyGolfStudioandGolfCenter . . . . . . . .$2 Million

•NewTennisComplex. . . . . . . . . . . .$1.75 Million

•BurgerKingStadiumatRagsdaleField. . . .$1.15 Million

•CougarClub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000

$7.65 Million

Athletics Campaign at Columbus State University

With your gift, Athletics will:

•Fundstudent-athletescholarshipsandbolsteroperatingbudgetsnecessaryto

recruit, train, and develop student-athletes and making CSU a First Choice for

their talents;

•ConstructacomprehensiveStudent-AthletePerformanceCenterthatwillinclude

academic services, strength and conditioning, and athletic training facilities to

contribute to our student-athletes’ success, both on and off the field;

•Improvepracticeandcompetitivefacilitiesforourtennis,trackandfield,

baseball, softball, and golf programs, providing student-athletes with enhanced

or new venues to compete in and further the student experience;

•Fundsalariestoattractandretainexemplarycoaches,whowillrecruitand

mentor the best student-athletes while producing academically excellent,

winning teams.

Your support is critical to make our vision a reality.

Cougar Athletics at Columbus State University

4225 University Ave

Columbus, GA 31907

706-562-1756