Miami University approaching $80 million Graduating Champions campaign goal

BY RACHEL BRADY

Miami University journalism student

Miami University has raised over $60 million through its Graduating Champions campaign. With a final campaign goal of $80 million, the athletic department aims to reach its fundraising goal by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

The campaign began this year and because of its success, has the potential to reach the $80 million goal in just two years. According to Deputy Athletic Director, Jude Killy, if this happens then the campaign will continue to raise money for the remaining three years to create a surplus for Miami Athletics.

The Graduating Champions campaign was started with the goal to achieve a more nationally respected athletic program at Miami University. This was to be achieved through encouraging donations geared toward athletic scholarships and facilities.

Effects of athletics on a university

According to Coleman Barnes, Senior Director of Development, successful athletic programs can attract national attention for the university, thus producing a more desirable and competitive academic environment. It can also promote a higher sense of community and tradition among students and alumni.

Barnes has a long history with collegiate athletics, stemming from his time on the University of Kentucky football team where he was the starting long snapper for three years and received scholarship for two years. He remembers the struggles of being a student athlete while in college.

“It’s definitely a grind,” said Barnes, “You’re talking a lot of early mornings in all weather extremes, even when things don’t go so well.”

Miami University senior, J'Terius Jones, had similar experiences while at Miami as Barnes did at UK. Jones said that one of the most challenging aspects of being on the Miami football team is keeping the motivation to get through the early mornings and hard workouts without the support of other students and professors.

"Since I've been a part of the Miami football program, we struggled a lot and we were not producing the wins that we wanted," said Jones.

Now an all-MAC senior defensive lineman on Miami's bowl bound football team, Jones said that many students and professors would poke fun at the football team and its players when the team wasn't successful at producing wins.

Athletic success

This year the football team became the first ever in the Football Bowl Subdivision to begin the season 0-6 and finish 6-6 to secure a post season bowl bid. Through the team's success and the university-wide support that this success gained. Many in the athletic department capitalized on the importance of support from the Miami community on a team's success.

Miami volleyball alumni and now Associate Athletic Director, Jennie Gilbert, is especially excited by the support that the football team is receiving for their success. She additionally expressed excitement successful season the volleyball team had, breaking the previous Miami volleyball winning streak and receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this month.

Being a graduating champion

As a once student athlete herself, Gilbert remembers the impact that Miami athletics had on her college experience.

"When you can recall how much fun you had as an athlete or as a student, if part of that or any of that had anything to do with attending a football game, attending a basketball game, being a volleyball player or being a field hockey athlete, you're willing to give back. It makes you so appreciative of the experience that you've had," said Gilbert.

Gilbert hopes that many other Miami athletes will have the same experience that she had as a student athlete. Miami senior field hockey player and MAC representative for all MAC athletes to the national student-athlete advisory committee, Kelsi White, credits in part the Graduating Champions campaign for inspiring her to achieve a higher level of success both at Miami and after graduation.

"Being a graduating champion from Miami means that I have gained the skills, the knowledge, and the capacity to achieve in whatever I choose to pursue after college,'' she said. "I will be graduating knowing that the support and experiences that have guided me during my time here have set me up for a successful future."

Scholarships

According to Barnes, there are three university athletic programs that are not fully funded by the university: men’s golf, men’s swimming and diving and men’s track and field. What this means is that it is up to the team itself and university fundraising groups such as graduating champions or the Red and White Clubs to raise enough money to offer scholarships in these sports.

The men’s swimming and diving team is allotted 6 of 9.9 scholarships resulting in a 3.9 difference of which needs to be raised. The 9.9 scholarship amount is determined by combining several full scholarships with some partial scholarships as well.

Barnes said it’s important to have scholarships and funding available in order to produce a successful sports program and specifically a successful men’s swimming and diving program.

“It’s my understanding that the standings every year are pretty much in line with how programs are funded,” said Barnes.

Barnes said Miami athletics consistently ranks fourth or fifth in the MAC and he says that ranking is directly correlated with the fact that Miami is currently the fourth or fifth most funded program in our league.

“We want to win the MAC every year, we want to win championships,” said Barnes.

Men’s golf is in a similar situation receiving only about 2.25 of 4.5 scholarships while men’s track and field receives only a small portion of its necessary scholarships as well.

Last year the Red and White Club raised $880,000 for scholarship contribution, but with about a $7 million annual bill the gap is too large. The Graduating Champions campaign aims to fill that gap.

Additionally Barnes said that as the Red and White Club raises more money, the athletic department will then be able to re allocate student fees that come in every year to invest those into general operating programs which should help with Miami's competitive success across the board.

“I think with what we are doing right now, it shows that the university is absolutely behind its athletics program,'' Barnes said. "The university wants Miami student athletes to succeed not only in competition and in the classroom but also in life after graduation.”

Facilities

Half of the money raised by the Graduating Champions campaign is to be allocated toward the renovation and building of state-of-the-art athletic facilities at Miami University.

Because of the long standing history of the University, many of Miami’s buildings, including athletic facilities, have sat untouched for several years. This lack of attention leads to outdated of inadequate facilities. According to Barnes, the Graduating Champions Campaign looks to strengthen as many of Miami’s athletic facilities as possible.

Although the list of potential projects is large, eight projects that the campaign has been used to either complete or begin work on are listed below. More information on these individual projects can be found on the Graduating Champions website as well as printed information found in the athletic offices at Millett Hall.

David and Anita Dauch Indoor Sports Center

• This facility is located north of Yager Stadium and opened its doors in February 2015.
• The center provides a year-round weather proof environment for the training of several Miami programs including football, golf, track and field, soccer, field hockey and many more.
• Additionally the facility allows opportunities for club and intramural sport use as well as community and university competitions, camps and events.
• “It’s a beautiful facility that everyone of our student athletes can take advantage of year round,” said Barnes, “Before it was built, if it was 20 degrees outside, if it was snowing, a number of our programs that compete outdoors would have to practice outside in the elements, but now they don’t have to.”
• The facility is also a strong recruiting statement seeing as Miami is the only facility of its type in Southwestern Ohio.

Gunlock Family Athletic Performance Center

• The facility is located near Yager Stadium’s north end zone and overlooks the field.
• The idea behind the Gunlock Family Athletic Performance Center is to bring together training and preparation resources while also celebrating Miami’s rich history.
• A new locker room, player’s lounge, auditorium and coaches offices are included in this facility and work to make a more convenient and well rounded home for Miami football and make a statement to recruits.
• Additionally location and resources will be available for all student athletes for injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
• The center also creates several naming and recognition opportunities for alumni and supporters.
• “That right there puts us in a position that no other program in our league can compete with,” said Barnes.

Goggin Ice Center Weight and Conditioning Room

• “A lot of our Pro-Hockey players come back and they talk about the overall facilities that Miami. Hockey has and how it’s better than some of their NHL programs out there,” said Barnes.
• The facility is connected to Goggin Ice Center and opened in the fall of 2014
• The purpose of the facility was to serve Miami Ice Hockey and Synchronized Skating to round out one of the finest ice rink facilities in the nation.
• Along with new and updated equipment, the facility also works to restore and celebrate Miami Hockey’s rich history and tradition.

Millett Hall Renovation/Locker Room Addition

• Phase 1 of Millett Hall renovations were completed in 2014 an included the upgrading of lights, seating and overall game day environment.
• Phase 2 will work to upgrade locker room and support services for men’s and women’s basketball as well as volleyball.
• These renovations are the first major renovations since Millett Hall’s opening in 1968.
• The Miami University men’s basketball team is the most winning program in MAC history.
• Volleyball has had great success wining the MAC and receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this season.

Yager Stadium Press Box Renovation

• The press box will be located above the western grandstand at Yager Stadium.
• This facility contributes to the stadium’s overall appearance while also offering opportunities for revenue generation.
• Enhanced media capabilities are also available due to improved press level and media technologies.

Legacy Project at Hayden Park

• Miami University Baseball was previously house in Withrow Court which was torn down this past summer due to it’s outdated structure and facilities.
• The new venue includes a locker room, player’s lounge, coaches offices, training and equipment rooms.
• Additionally the facility works to capture and support Miami Baseball’s rich history.
• The building was built through the private support of Miami Baseball’s alumni and supporters.
• “From a baseball standpoint, I don’t know what else we can do from an actual facilities standpoint because it’s as good as it gets,” said Barnes.

Soccer Stadium Complex

• Currently, Miami’s soccer venue is outdated lacking quality, a permanent press box and spectator seating additionally the field faces many field condition challenges.
• Bobby Kramig, Miami Women’s Soccer Head Coach, said, “The problems with the current soccer facility are legendary.”
• A new soccer complex would move the field out of an existing flood plain onto a location with proper drainage and sunlight exposure.
• On-site team meeting rooms and enhanced fan experience will also be included in the new complex.

Indoor Tennis Facility

• The location of this facility is still under discussion but the design and demand is very prevalent.
• The purpose of this facility is to provide a long-overdue all-weather facility for the tennis team and surrounding community.
• The building will house six competition and practice courts to be used year round to replace use of the hour long round trip location in Hamilton, Ohio that the tennis team usually uses.
• Inside there will also be new on-site locker rooms, offices, and pro shop with the opportunity to produce revenue through pro shop and court rentals.
• The Miami women’s tennis team is the Mid-American Conference’s winningest women’s tennis program.

“I tell donors or perspective donors all the time that we have the history, tradition, campus beauty, academics, the network after graduation, and now we have facilities where we have been getting beaten up from a recruiting stand point, but now other schools can’t beat us up,'' Barnes said. "Because we have it all.”

Photo: Miami University football team travels to St. Petersburg, Florida December 26, 2016 to play Mississippi State. -- Contributed photo.