From Athletic Director Scott Barnes
The Intercollegiate Athletics program at Utah State University will face significant opportunities and challenges in the near future. Our membership in the WAC gives us a wonderful platform from which to grow our athletics program and our first three years have been met with some great success stories as well as significant growing pains. Athletics will play a vital role in phase II of our university comprehensive campaign and we are currently ramping up in preparation. Looking ahead it is critical that we dramatically increase our reach and expand our donor base to meet the needs of our student-athletes. Please join us in fulfilling our mission to provide our student-athletes with the finest educational and athletic experiences possible, while assisting in developing each of them into the leaders of tomorrow.
Athletics Goals: $20 Million
Big Blue Scholarship Fund: $1.2M annually
The Athletics Department currently pays the University more than $3.4 million each year to provide our student athletes the opportunity to gain a degree. The Big Blue Scholarship Fund provides over $1M in scholarship support for 340+ student-athletes annually, and is your annual opportunity to contribute directly to scholarships for all 16 men's and women's sports. The Big Blue Scholarship Fund is also the means by which alumni and friends can obtain priority seating for season tickets in both football and men's basketball. Gifts to the Big Blue Scholarship Fund start at as little as $100 a year. This is a perfect example of a large number of people all making gifts that together make a significant difference.
How can I get involved?
For a full explanation of member benefits and more information about how you can become involved in the Big Blue Scholarship Fund, go to the Fund's website www.bigbluefund.net or contact Executive Director Tom Hale at 435-797-2583 or tom.hale@usu.edu
Football Competitive Excellence Campaign: $2.5M
Our commitment is to build a Football program that exemplifies competitive excellence within the Western Athletic Conference and beyond. This program will produce a perennial bowl eligible team that consistently finishes in the top three in the WAC while continuing our commitment to lead the conference in academic achievement. In accomplishing this, we will generate a greater sense of pride, excitement, and support among Aggie Alumni everywhere. While our plan involves a new level of financial investment in a number of strategic areas including operating budgets, recruiting, and facilities, the most important investment we can make is in our ability to attract and retain new dynamic leadership in our coaching ranks.
How can I get involved?
Gifts to the Football Competitive Excellence Fund directly support Aggie Football recruiting and staff salaries. Gifts of any amount are welcomed. Gift commitments exceeding $25,000 (over a period of up to five years) are recognized on a donor board in the second floor lobby and are annually invited to a VIP reception with the Aggie coaching staff. Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding campaign information.
Basketball & Volleyball Practice/Competition Facility: $7.5M
Across the country many of the top basketball programs have made investments in practice facilities in the last ten years. Utilized by the Aggie men's and women's basketball programs, and the women's volleyball program, this 32,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will help showcase Aggie Basketball and Volleyball. Providing the necessary practice, strength and conditioning, and office facilities to compete at the highest levels of NCAA Division I this new building will enhance both the daily operations of these programs and their ability to recruit high caliber student-athletes. In the case of volleyball it will also provide a new competition venue with the opportunity to create a significant home court advantage.
How can I get involved?
Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding the planned campaign dates.
Strength and Conditioning Center: $7.5M
Utah State University has created a project to develop a state-of-the-art Athletic Strength and Conditioning Center. The current facility, the Aggie Weight Room, was built 19 years ago and is located in the Student Health and Wellness Center. This project would elevate Aggie Athletics to a new level in recruiting and student-athlete physical development. The proposed plan is to develop the largest, most efficient, Strength and Conditioning Center in the WAC, and in the region.
Designed to accommodate more than 100 student-athletes at a time, the new Strength and Conditioning Center will be fully equipped with the most advanced cardiovascular equipment, exercise machines, free weights, and incline ramp. It will feature an indoor turf area for innovative "strongman" style training like 'tire-flipping', a sprinting surface as well as offices for the Strength and Conditioning coaching staff. The facility would be located immediately north-west of the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex providing a synergy of physical conditioning, Sports Medicine and Academic Success all within immediate proximity. The Strength and Conditioning Center will provide essential space benefiting all men's and women's programs at USU.
How can I get involved?
Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding the planned campaign dates.
Merlin Olsen Field Campaign: $500,000
On October 23, 2010 a larger than life statue of Aggie legend Merlin Olsen was unveiled in the south plaza of Romney stadium. This campaign honors Merlin, who passed away in March, 2010, through the creation of the statue, an endowment, and support for Merlin's personal philanthropic interest, the Aggie Football Competitive Excellence Campaign.
How can I get involved?
Gifts honoring Merlin through the Merlin and Susan Olsen Football Excellence Endowment may be made through Aggie Athletics. Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding further information.
Jim and Carol Laub Athletics and Academics Complex: $12M
This nationally acclaimed 55,000-square-foot building officially opened in September of 2008 and has already boosted our recruiting for all sports.
First Floor: The entry and reception area houses the Mothersell Hall of Honor presenting 100+ years of Aggie sports history as well as the Hall of Fame. The Mildenberger Sports Medicine Facility provides Aggie Athletics with a world class facility for the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of our injured student-athletes.
Second Floor: This floor is all about Aggie Football. Anchored by the 150 seat Spetman Auditorium, this floor includes offices for all the football staff, position and staff meeting rooms and state-of-the-art technology. The classrooms that face south into Romney Stadium are converted into suites on game day. The suites are contracted on a multi-year lease basis; a waiting list is currently in place for future openings.
Third Floor: This floor is home to the academic support unit for Aggie Athletics as well as a suite of offices for the Cross-country and Track program. Academic support includes classrooms, breakout rooms, study hall, a computer lab, and a suite of offices for the academic support staff. The Stockham Student-Athlete Academic Hall of Honor showcases the academic achievements and honors of past and current Aggie student-athletes. We continue to lead the WAC with our student athlete GPA and graduation rate percentages.
How can I get involved?
There are a handful of unique naming opportunities still available in the facility. This includes two office suites, individual rooms, marble pillars, and the recognition plaza. Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding specific campaign information.
Basketball Off-Court Facilities Renovation Campaign: $500,000
With the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum turning forty in 2010 we created a renovation project that went well beyond new paint, carpet and lockers. These newly opened facilities, which include a new team video room, training room and Men's & Women's basketball locker rooms equipped with lounge and study areas that are the envy of the conference. Several special naming opportunities still exist.
How can I get involved?
There are locker naming opportunities still available for Men's Basketball (1:$10,000) and Women's Basketball (4: $2500 each). Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding further information.
Scholarship and Program Endowments
An endowed scholarship provides tuition and other assistance that is permanently paid for with the revenue of an endowment fund specifically set up for that purpose. Permanent named endowed scholarships start at $25,000 and offer an unparalleled opportunity to chart a more certain course for Aggie Athletics. Simply stated, scholarships change lives and help students realize their potential through education.
How can I get involved?
Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding further information.
Planned and Estate Gifts
Creating a plan for a gift to Aggie Athletics through their respective estates has become common for alumni and friends of Aggie Athletics. By pre-determining the percentage of their estate and the area they wish this gift to support, Aggie Athletics is able to make sure the gift is used as the donor intended. Gifts may be for unrestricted use, create endowments, or support capital campaigns among other options.
How can I get involved?
Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding further information on setting up a Planned Gift, or discuss this with your tax professional.
Sport Specific Excellence Campaigns
Recognizing that many former-athletes were most interested in supporting the program they participated in, these annual mini-campaigns support specific needs within each sport including one-time purchases like computers, equipment, and student-athlete welfare. These campaigns are largely electronic in nature, focused on on-line giving.
How can I get involved?
Mini-campaign information is sent out to an identified group of potential donors, and the campaign information is listed on both the team website, and on the Big Blue Scholarship Fund site. Contributions to individual programs are tax deductible to the extent of the law and appreciated, but cannot be used to fulfill priority seating. Contact the Athletic Development staff (info at bottom of page) regarding the planned campaign dates.
For questions or further information about how you or your company can support Utah State athletics, please contact:
Kevin Rice, Associate Athletic Director-Development
Email: kevin.rice@usu.edu
Phone: (435) 797-1860
Kent Stanley, Senior Associate Athletic Director-Development
Email: kent.stanley@usu.edu
Phone: (435) 881-7027
Gifts, pledges or correspondence may be mailed to either Kevin or Kent at:
Aggie Athletics
7400 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
Thank you!