WCU AthleticsStudent Fee Committee Presentation

October 11, 2021

• WCU Athletics Mission Statement and Guiding Principles

• Impact of Athletic Success to Universities

• Investments in Competitive Success

• WCU Athletics Fee Request

• What Priorities?

• Why these Priorities?

• Conference Comparisons

Agenda

Mission Statement: Catamount Athletics strives to foster a championship culture while preparing student-athletes for lifelong success. #FIGHTON

Championship Culture? • WE ARE Committed to competitive success• WE NEED Committed and unified team members• WE ARE Committed to Standards of Behavior (integrity and respect)

At Catamount Athletics, EVERYTHING WE DO is shaped by these guiding principles:

First-class Student Experience

Innovate and Build the BrandGrow in Every WayHolistic Student-athlete DevelopmentTalent and Culture WinsOutreach and Alumni EngagementNow is our time!

WCU Athletics Mission and Guiding Principles

Impact of Athletic Success to Universities

In 2011 VCU made the Final Four in Men’s Basketball. 2012 saw a 20% increase in applications.

Butler University made runs to the Final Four in 2010 and 2011. The university commissioned a private study that determined Butler received over $1.2B in media attention from the two tournament runs. Butler saw a 52% increase in applications from 2009 – 2011.

In 2013 FGCU made the Men’s Basketball Sweet 16. From March 21 to March 25, unique visitors to the admissions page on FGCU’s website leaped from 2,280 to 42,793.

George Mason made it to the Final Four in 2006, subsequently applications increased 350%. GMU professor conducted a study revealing that $677M in media attention was received during the run.

NC#1 NC#2 NC#3, U-M

2003 - 04 2004 - 05 2005 – 06 2006 – 07 2007 – 08 2008 – 09 2009 - 10

Total Freshman Applications 9,598 9,683 (.008) 9,923 (.024) 10,419 (.04) 11,468 (.09) 13,182 (.13) 13,039

AVG Highschool GPA of Class 3.65 3.67 3.73 3.74 3.68 3.87 3.87

% of SAT Verbal >600 23.40% 30.22% 31.60%

% of SAT Reading >600 30.20% 29.30% 38.70% 38%

% of SAT Writing > 600 19.10% 21.90% 28.32% 29.90%

% of SAT Math >600 26.60% 31.34% 34.50% 35.70% 33.60% 42.94% 43.31%

Investments in Competitive Success• WCU Athletic Success during the 2021 – 22 academic year

o Seven Top 3 regular season/tournament SoCon finishes (SFTBL, BSBL, VBALL, MGO, T&Fx3)

• Championship Planso What do we need to do to compete in the Top 3 of the SoCon annually

• Address Staffing Deficiencies o 2nd Assistant Coaches in Volleyball, Softball, and Soccero Graduate Assistants added in other sports

• Nutritional Enhancements o Agreement with Ingles for $25k annually in products for fueling stationo Strength and Conditioning Coach is certified nutritionist

• Cost of Attendance

• Capital Improvementso Renovated Locker Rooms and Media Room for men’s and women’s basketballo Planning for golf practice facility

• Branding Focuso Director of Creative Mediao Nike transition

WCU Athletics Fee Request

• Athletics Facility Master Plan was developed in partnership with Heery Design in May 2019

• State of North Carolina does not allow state funds to support Athletic Facilities o Student Feeso Philanthropy and Other Revenue Generation

• Lead the Way Campaign ending April 15, 2019 generated $61,883,018 university-wide o Largest single cash commitment to support an athletics facility project is $400k

• $86 increase will be critical in helping transform WCU’s Athletics program’s facilities

What and Why? Camp Lab Gym (1963)

• Includeso Coaches Offices for:

▪ Women’s Softball▪ Women’s Tennis▪ Women’s Soccer▪ M/W Track & Cross Country

o M/W Golf Simulators o M/W Track Locker Roomso Undersized Sports Medicine Space

• Engineering Plan Feedback (2014) o Building in floodplain and floodway zoneso Deterioration of flooring due to lack of moisture protectiono Replacement of single ply adhered roofo Address masonry and joint deterioration due to settlemento Replacement of exterior soffitso Replacement of original single glaze steel windowso Electrical systems beyond useful lifeo Mechanical systems beyond useful lifeo Plumbing systems beyond useful life

• Other Issueso Not located near practice and competition fieldso Not a positive experience to entice prospective student-athleteso Not enough space for coaches

What and Why? Jordan-Phillips Fieldhouse (1974)• Includes

o 15,430 sq ft o Home to Catamount Athletics:

▪ Strength and Conditioning ▪ Academic Services▪ M/W Golf Coaches Offices

• Engineering Plan Feedback (2014)o Replacement of single ply adhered roofo Aside from main entrance and elevator, no ADA

complianceo No emergency and egress lighting to meet code

complianceo Replacement of fire alarm system to meet current

codeo Replacement of existing hot water boilero Underground fuel storage tank replacement to

above groundo Replacement of original single glaze aluminum

windowso Replacement of flooring finisheso Electrical systems beyond useful life (minus

weight room addition)o Mechanical systems beyond useful life (minus

weight room addition)o Plumbing systems beyond useful life (minus

weight room addition)• Other Issues

o Nonexistent Team Meeting Spaceo Inadequate study, storage, and strength and

conditioning space▪ Issues with staff ▪ Issues with class scheduling

What and Why? EJ Whitmire Stadium (east 1974)• Includes

o Press box for football operationso Chancellor’s Box o Concessionso Restroomso Spectator Seating

• Engineering Report Feedback (2014)o Replacement of all concrete expansion joint seals

between double tee seating unitso Replacement of all concrete sealants in joints of

elevated seating areas and slab gradeo Replacement of deteriorated grout blocks supporting

double teeso Noted corrosion of steel plate connections below

double teeso Repair of deteriorated concrete and areas of spallingo Handrail replacemento Replacement of all brick expansion control joints at

knee wallo Press box not ADA complianto Roof drain leader from press box requires reroutingo Stadium lighting replacemento Electrical systems beyond useful lifeo Mechanical systems beyond useful lifeo Plumbing systems beyond useful life

• Other Issueso Experience of press box staff on gamedayo Experience of Chancellor’s Guests on gamedayo Ascetics for our campus (11,123 in attendance on

Saturday)

SoCon Competitors – Samford (2009)

• 39,400 Sq Ft

• Includes:• Locker Room• Player’s Lounge• Training Room• Weight Room• Equipment Room• Meeting Rooms• Film Room

SoCon Competitors – Furman (2013)

• 44,000 Sq Ft

• Includes:• Locker Room• Coaches Offices• Hall of Fame• Sport Medicine Center• Club Level• Pressbox• Meeting Rooms

SoCon Competitors – Mercer (2013)

• 43,000 Sq Ft

• Includes:• Locker Rooms• Training Room• Weight Room• Coaches Offices• Gameday Suites• Meeting Rooms• Physical Therapy

and Rehab Center

SoCon Competitors – East Tennessee State (2017)• New Stadium

• Includes:• President Box• Suites• Meeting Space

SoCon Competitors – UT Chattanooga • Finley Stadium

• Includes:• President Box• Suites• Locker Rooms

Thank you committee!