UNO ATHLETICS
CURRENT AND FUTURE
STRATEGIC PLANS
November 14, 2003
UNO Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic Plan 2001-2004
Six-year Comparison
General Student Student-Athlete Grad Adjusted S-A Grad First-year S-A
Grad Rate Rate Rate* 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 I
Wooden basketball floor, weight room, academic center
Football press box – Phase II
Arena bleachers – Phase III
UNO Athletics
Strategic 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 Athletics
Strategic 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 Council
David Karnes, Chair Jim Leslie
Mickey Anderson Maggie Lehning
Nancy Belck Jack Lewis
Tom Boyer John Mock
Jim Buck Robert Myers
Connie Claussen Wade Robinson
Bob Danenhauer Clark Rosenlof
Jeff Dempsey Lisa Roskens
Deb Denbeck Dave Scott
Todd Engle David Sokol
Gerald Karlin William Wakefield
Rod Kush John Webster
Don Leahy Ken West
UNO Athletic Committee
John Langan (chair) UNO Faculty Dan Sweetwood Alumnus
Richard File UNO Faculty John Webster Community-at- large
Deborah Smith-Howell UNO Faculty Bob Danenhauer Athletic Director
Leah Pietron UNO Faculty Deb Denbeck Assoc. Ath. Director
John Fiene UNO Administration Drew Galbraith Dir. of Compliance
Merry Ellen Turner UNO Administration Sandy Higdon Academic Coordinator
Ryan Curtis Student Athlete Bill Wakefield UNO Faculty - NCAA
Stephanie Kirby Student Athlete James Buck Ex-officio
Strategic Planning Committee
David Karnes (chair) Bob Danenhauer
Mickey Anderson Deb Denbeck
Todd Engle Sue Baumert
Maggie Lehning Drew Galbraith
Bob Myers Lynn Conner
Strategic Plan 2004-07
Development 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!