Under the new plan, traditionally low-profile sports like cross country will get a full complement of scholarships and coaching time.
|
|
Reaching New Heights in USF Athletics
At its September meeting, the USF Board of Trustees approved an ambitious plan to improve the university’s athletic program.
“Reaching New Heights on the Hilltop” sets clear goals for competitive success and makes a commitment to all Dons teams, eliminating the prioritizing of some sports over others. The overarching goal: to see several USF teams ranked high in the West Coast Conference (WCC) and nationally each year.
“The plan is to add scholarships and full-time head coaches,” said Athletic Director Bill Hogan. “I think we could have an outstanding program.”
Specific goals include adding full time coaches and
funding additional scholarships, especially for tennis and cross-country,
in order to have several nationally competitive USF teams each year.
The plan notes that major athletic facility improvements, such as a renovation of the War Memorial Gym and upgrades of the baseball and soccer fields, will be needed, though these are not part of the trustee-approved goals. USF Trustee Ricky Curotto ’53, JD ’58, and his wife, Therese, have already designated their recent $2 million gift for a renovation of the gym.
The bulk of athletic money has historically been spent on popular spectator sports such as basketball. Both the men’s and women’s teams enjoy nearly the full complement of coaching time and scholarships allowed by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations. Tennis and cross country, on the other hand, have had less budgetary support. Women’s tennis coach Hilary Somers is paid for quarter time, while the team has money for just one and a half out of eight scholarships allowed. The plan aims to change that.
“The support in scholarships helps the teams feel a lot more support from the university,” Somers said. “(It also) makes a difference for me in wanting to coach here, because I can continue to improve the team each year.”
The plan also underscores the importance of increasing
student participation in athletics, both as players and spectators, as well
as raising the profile of student athletes in campus life.
The premise behind “Reaching New Heights” is that more successful athletics teams will raise the university’s profile in the community and also help bind the campus community together.
“I think the time is right for people to feel proud about USF athletics again,” said David Macmillan, vice president of university advancement, who oversees the athletics department. “That pride has been building and goes hand-in-hand with pride in the university’s academic programs.”
|
