UNO ATHLETICSCURRENT AND FUTURE

STRATEGIC PLANS

November 14, 2003

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

1. Enhance recruiting relationships to pursue the highest quality student athletes within the state of Nebraska and surrounding regions.

2. Achieve a 65% graduation rate.

3. Generate income to secure the athletic department’s future.4. Achieve capital facilities equal to or greater than our respective peers in our

divisions. 5. Continue current NCAA and Conference Affiliations. 6. Continue to improve the quality of the entire athletic program.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

1. Enhance recruiting relationships to pursue the highest quality student athletes within the state of Nebraska and surrounding regions.

OBJECTIVES• To keep the level of in-state scholarship student athletes annually at a minimum of

60% of the total amount entered. • To expand the recruiting base to outside of Nebraska. Therefore, 40% of the

remaining amount will be from outside the state of Nebraska. – In 2000-01, the split of scholarship athletes was 64% resident and 36% non-resident.– In 2001-02, the split of scholarship athletes was again 64% resident and 36% non-

resident.– In 2002-03, the split of scholarship athletes was 62% resident and 38% non-resident.– In 2003-04, the split of scholarship athletes is 61% resident and 39% non-resident.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

1.Enhance recruiting relationships to pursue the highest quality student athletes within the state of Nebraska and surrounding regions.

RESPONSES• UNO coaches contact Nebraska high school coaches annually while recruiting the state

via phone, e-mail and letters. Last year, UNO coaches contacted 333 of the 355 Nebraska High Schools (94%). In addition, UNO coaches had contact with individuals at 392 different high schools in Iowa.

• UNO coaches make public appearances throughout the state and region. Appearances include UNO golf outings, sports banquets, coaching clinics, Iowa High School Athletic Association, Nebraska School Activities Association, Mav Classic, Mav Council Dinner, and Women’s Walk.

• UNO coaches target out-of-state athletes and make contacts with their coaches while recruiting out of state. All told, UNO coaches contacted prospects from 26 states and 5 Canadian provinces in the last year.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

2. Achieve a 65% graduation rate

RESPONSE• The graduation rate (incoming scholarship freshmen graduating from the original

institution in six years) for the 1994-95 cohort was 59%.• The graduation rate for the 1995-96 cohort was 51%.• The graduation rate for the 1996-97 cohort was 40%.

• The projected rate for the 1997-98 cohort is 53.1%• The projected rate for the 1998-99 cohort is 59.1%.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

Six-year Comparison General Student

Grad Rate

Student-Athlete Grad

Rate

Adjusted S-A Grad

Rate*

First-year S-A

Retention

1992-93 25% 29% 68% 78.9%1993-94 25% 38% 79% 78.9%1994-95 27% 59% 86% 86.1%1995-96 27% 52% 83% 87.9%1996-97 31% 40% 93% 87.0%1997-98 N/A 53% 84% 91.8%* Adjusted Rate is takes into account student-athletes who transferred on track to graduate within six years.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

2. Achieve a 65% graduation rate

STRATEGIES• UNO received an NCAA Enhancement grant in the spring of 2002, which enabled

the hiring of a full-time Academic Coordinator beginning in the Fall 2002 semester.• Efforts to monitor and assist academically at-risk student-athletes have been

increased. The Academic Coordinator and Compliance Director work closely with coaches to ensure that the progress of at-risk students is tracked efficiently and that those students are receiving the proper academic assistance through tutors and mentoring.

• The Academic Resource Center and its computer hardware are upgraded every year to keep up with today’s technology.

• A comprehensive Life Skills Program was started in 2002 to assist student-athletes in the areas of career building and personal growth and also to promote community service projects.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

3. Generate income to secure the athletic department’s future

RESPONSES

• As of December 31, 2002, the market value of scholarship fund (both endowed and expendable) was over $1.2 million – an increase of over $600,000 since 2001.

• The three major athletic department fundraisers (Diet Pepsi/UNO Women’s Walk, Mav Council Dinner and auction, Mav Classic Golf Outing) combined to bring in over $360,000 last year, an increase of $40,000 over 2001.

• The Athletic Department works closely with the University of Nebraska Foundation and the UNO Alumni Association to identify potential donors.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

4. Achieve capital facilities equal or greater than our respective peers in our divisions.

RESPONSES

UNO Athletic Capitol Improvement Program Statement was approved in July of 1996.

Fieldhouse renovation and improvement – Phase IWooden basketball floor, weight room, academic center

Football press box – Phase IIArena bleachers – Phase III

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

5. Continue current NCAA and conference affiliations

RESPONSES

• The NCC has lost three members (Northern Colorado in 2003, North Dakota State in 2004 and South Dakota State in 2004) and added one (Minnesota-Duluth in 2004).

• The NCC has activated its Long Range Planning Committee to evaluate expansion opportunities in the future.

• There is no expansion or affiliation discussion currently among CCHA members.

UNO AthleticsStrategic Plan 2001-2004

6. Continue to improve the quality of the entire athletic program

RESPONSES

• UNO has won 10 NCC Championships in the since 2000• The Mavericks finished 10th in the Sears Directors’ Cup in 2002-03.• In 2002-03, 73% of UNO’s sports finished in the top three in their

respective conference standings.

Maverick Executive CouncilDavid Karnes, ChairMickey AndersonNancy BelckTom BoyerJim BuckConnie ClaussenBob DanenhauerJeff DempseyDeb DenbeckTodd EngleGerald KarlinRod KushDon Leahy

Jim Leslie Maggie LehningJack LewisJohn MockRobert MyersWade RobinsonClark RosenlofLisa RoskensDave ScottDavid SokolWilliam WakefieldJohn WebsterKen West

UNO Athletic Committee

John Langan (chair) UNO Faculty

Richard File UNO Faculty

Deborah Smith-Howell UNO Faculty

Leah Pietron UNO Faculty

John Fiene UNO Administration

Merry Ellen Turner UNO Administration

Ryan Curtis Student Athlete

Stephanie Kirby Student Athlete

Dan Sweetwood Alumnus

John Webster Community-at- large

Bob Danenhauer Athletic Director

Deb Denbeck Assoc. Ath. Director

Drew Galbraith Dir. of Compliance

Sandy Higdon Academic Coordinator

Bill Wakefield UNO Faculty - NCAA

James Buck Ex-officio

Strategic Planning CommitteeDavid Karnes (chair)

Mickey Anderson

Todd Engle

Maggie Lehning

Bob Myers

Bob Danenhauer

Deb Denbeck

Sue Baumert

Drew Galbraith

Lynn Conner

Strategic Plan 2004-07Development Process

• Subcommittee of Maverick Council Executive Board formed in September 2003

• Strategic Planning Committee met in late September• Survey distributed to constituents (late October/early November)• Data discussed at November committee meeting• Town Hall Meeting in early January• Formulation of new plan and approval process in February and

March• Final Plan ready in April 2004

GO MAVS!