GoZips.com/IMPACT2020
O U R Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics
Looking back on our history, Zips Athletics has come a long way in a short period of time. From participating at the NCAA “College” level, to being the first school to “move up” to Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision), to winning team and individual national championships at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics, The University of Akron continually has re-established a “New Gold Standard.” It’s no coincidence that this rise in performance by Zips Athletics has followed a similar path of comprehensive excellence chartered by the entire University. And while we are proud of how far we have come, we still are far from content. Now is the time to look ahead, just like our University has done, to where we want to go – and determine the actions we must take to get there. In 2012, The University of Akron unveiled its plan, VISION 2020, outlining our school’s strategic approach to its future. On behalf of our department, I am proud to unveil IMPACT 2020, the ambitious and inclusive vision for Zips Athletics. The following pages identify to our stakeholders the aggressive goals we want to achieve. In a word, we want to IMPACT the people and the communities we serve. Thank you for all that you have done, and all that you will do, to IMPACT Zips Athletics. For more information on IMPACT 2020, visit GoZips.com/IMPACT2020. Go Zips!
Tom Wistrcill Director of Athletics
F U T U R E
OU R
HIS T O
1953 1940 1913 1893-94 1872 1870
ORY
2010
Men’s Soccer wins UA’s first team national title InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field opens on campus
2009
Christi Smith becomes first Zip to win a national title (heptathlon)
2000
Zips become first football program to move from Division I-AA to Division I-A
1987 1980
Zips move to Division I-AA
1973
Zips move to Division II
1956
Zips move to NCAA “College” Division (competed in “University” Division for Men’s Soccer)
Zippy adopted as the official mascot of Zips Athletics The Rubber Bowl opens
Conference Affiliations: Ohio Athletic Conference 1915-66
School renamed the Municipal University of Akron Football team coached by John Heisman
Mid-Continent Conference 1978-79; 1989-92
Ohio Valley Conference
First intercollegiate competition (baseball) Competed as Buchtel College
1980-87
Mid-American Conference 1992-present
O UR Befitting our goals and the nature of college sports, the strategic process to create IMPACT 2020 demonstrated leadership, coaching, teamwork and community involvement. Our process included: • A Steering Committee comprised of 25 members of Zips Athletics, including student-athletes, coaches and staff, plus the Faculty Athletic Representative, the Athletics Sub-Committee chairman for Faculty-Senate, and the Athletics and Recreation Sub-Committee chairman for University Council. • Consultants Dr. Steven Ash, Ph.D. and Dr. Debmalya Mukherjee, Ph.D., from UA’s College of Business Administration. • Survey responses in March 2013 from more than 1,200 UA students, faculty, staff, alumni, current and former student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, sponsors and season ticketholders, as well as community leaders in the city of Akron, Summit County and Northeast Ohio. • Public forums on campus in April 2013 at the Student Union and in InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field prior to the 2013 Spring Football Game. • Goal-setting sessions by the Athletics Senior Staff, 10 administrators who have more than 175 combined years of experience in college athletics, with nearly 150 years of service at UA.
PRO C E S S
I M PACT PRINC
C IP LES OUR Mission To have a positive and meaningful IMPACT on the people and communities we serve.
OUR VISION To provide greater visibility and a stronger source of pride for The University of Akron, our alumni and the surrounding communities, and to ensure future success for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
I M PA C T O N V
Zips Athletics strives to be a relevant, productive and connected component of The University of Akron. The goals of IMPACT 2020 intentionally align with Vision 2020 in thoughtful and measurable ways:
VISION 2020 PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS The Akron Experience: Academic & Inclusive Excellence
Globally Relevant & Distinctive Programs
Interdisciplinary Clusters of Entrepreneurial Innovation
Connectivity for Economic Vitality
Campus and Community Enhancement and Engagement
VISION 2020
IMPACT 2020 GOALS Improve Our Academics and Enhance Our Culture
We will provide student-athletes the opportunity to earn a meaningful degree and prepare them for life after athletics.
Win Championships
We will compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics and expect to be successful both within our conference and nationally.
Develop Our Facilities and Resources
We will ensure that our physical campus serves as a source of pride for the University, our student-athletes, coaches and fans.
Grow Our Funding
We will generate more revenue to become less reliant over time on University funding to operate our budget.
Strengthen Our Identity and Position
We will build the school’s brand by connecting with alumni and cultivating new supporters of the University and our athletics teams.
OUR IMPACT:
ACADEMIC
ATHLETICS’ IMPACT on Vision 2020 Aspirational Goals • Increased Diversity • Improved Graduation and Professional Success
S Our IMPACT: Improve Our Academics and Enhance our Culture • We will increase our graduation rate for student-athletes to 80 percent • We will achieve a 3.2 average GPA for all student-athletes and win the MAC Academic Award for highest cumulative student-athlete GPA • We will offer comprehensive programming in leadership, equity/diversity and personal/professional development for student-athletes, coaches and staff • We will comply actively with all University, conference, NCAA and federal rules and regulations
RACHEL TECCA
Akron graduate, 2013 MAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year “My experience as a student-athlete at Akron will have an IMPACT on my life well beyond my playing days. I will be fortunate to have two degrees from UA, including my MBA, and given the opportunity, I hope to continue my basketball career after college. Wherever life takes me, I’ll be ready for it – and I’ll always be a Zip!”
OUR IMPACT:
CHAM Our IMPACT: Win Championships • We will claim 40 more conference championships by 2020 • We will capture the Reese (men) and Jacoby (women) Cup trophies for best athletic programs in the MAC for first time • We will achieve new heights in NCAA championship competition, earning a Top-50 finish in the NACDA Directors’ Cup standings for first time • We will celebrate and promote our All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honorees
CHRISTI SMITH
Akron graduate and 2000 NCAA champion in the heptathlon “My amazing experience at Akron made me want to coach. I want to help my student-athletes develop a culture that comes from traveling the country, learning how to be a positive influence in one’s community, and winning. Graduating from Akron changed my life and has blessed me with a coaching career. No matter what team I may wear on my chest, I’ll always be proud to call myself a Zip.”
MPIONSHIPS
ATHLETICS’ IMPACT on Vision 2020 Aspirational Goals • Enrollment Growth to 40,000 • Recognition for Distinction (The Akron Model and The Akron Experience)
OUR IMPACT:
FACILITIES
ATHLETICS’ IMPACT on Vision 2020 Aspirational Goals • Improved Graduation and Professional Success • Revitalized Campus Neighborhood • Diversified Revenue to Support Growth
S Our IMPACT: Develop Facilities • We will create and implement a master facilities plan that includes a new or renovated basketball arena and other sport-specific projects • We will seek external funding to add or renovate an enhanced academic center to serve our student-athletes • We will grow incremental revenue and attract new visitors to campus with more camps and clinics, on-campus events and outside rentals • We will pursue innovative enhancements to our facilities that distinguish us from our competition
CHAD BARSON
Akron graduate, 2010 NCAA champion, Two-time men’s soccer co-captain “I can’t imagine a better college experience than playing in front of thousands of fans and AK-Rowdies at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. The energy and atmosphere at our games was as good as it gets and inspired our team to greater heights. We won the national championship because we had the best of everything – talent, coaching, chemistry, facility and fanbase – to make a huge IMPACT.”
OUR IMPACT:
FUND Our IMPACT: Grow funding • We will grow season ticket sales for football to 10,000; men’s basketball to 3,000; men’s soccer to 1,500; and women’s basketball to 500 • We will fundraise $5 million annually from 5,000 donors, and launch and complete a $100 million resource campaign to support future facility projects • We will increase sponsorship revenue to $1.5 million annually • We will forecast and achieve a balanced budget that minimizes the amount of the University’s support for Athletics
KEVIN THOMPSON
Akron graduate, Regional President – PNC, former member of the UA Board of Trustees “As proud alumni, my wife and I are honored to be dedicated Akron supporters. Cheering on the Zips has become a family tradition and has provided great entertainment and wonderful memories. We are long-time season ticket holders and proud Z-Fund members. As the Regional President of PNC, I felt there was a great value in being a corporate sponsor, especially with the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. I would encourage everyone in our community to join me in supporting Zips Athletics.”
DING
ATHLETICS’ IMPACT on Vision 2020 Aspirational Goals • $1 Billion Development Portfolio • Diversified Revenue to Support Growth
OUR IMPACT:
IDE N T I T Y
ATHLETICS’ IMPACT on Vision 2020 Aspirational Goals • Enrollment Growth to 40,000 • Recognition for Distinction (The Akron Model and The Akron Experience)
Our IMPACT: Strengthen our Identity and Position • We will enhance our brand nationally through creative marketing, developing annual metrics to measure our reach with traditional and social media • We will engage campus, our alumni (especially the 90,000 within 90 minutes of campus) and the community with specific events and targeted marketing • We will provide the best customer-service recreational experience in Northeast Ohio • We will create a student-athlete and fan experience that provides an unparalleled gameday atmosphere with energy, tradition and sportsmanship
CHASE BLACKBURN
Akron graduate, two-time Super Bowl Champion, Carolina Panthers linebacker “I talk up Akron every chance I get. I love the fact that more sports fans than ever, and people in general, know who the Zips are. We’re making an IMPACT out there. It makes me proud to see my school accomplishing great things and getting the recognition it deserves.”
YOUR Special thanks to the following for making their IMPACT as part of the strategic planning process for The University of Akron’s Department of Athletics: • Current Student-Athletes • Former Student-Athletes • Coaches and Staff • Donors, Sponsors and Season Ticketholders • Students, Faculty and Staff • Alumni • Corporate and Civic Stakeholders • The Communities of the City of Akron, Summit County and Northeast Ohio • Strategic Planning Steering Committee • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee • Office of the President • The Board of Trustees If you would like to make an IMPACT on Zips Athletics or share how it has had an IMPACT on your life, please visit GoZips.com/Impact2020.
KEITH DAMBROT
Akron graduate, Men’s Basketball Head Coach “My mother taught here, I went to school here, my two kids go here, and I’ve been a coach here for more than 16 years. Akron is my home -- I want to make a difference here. I’m all in at Akron but I can’t do it alone. Are you ready to join me and make an IMPACT?”
R I M PA C T
We cheer the Akron Blue and Gold, We cheer as the colors unfold. We pledge anew, we’re all for you, As the team goes crashing through, Fight! Fight! We cheer the Akron warriors bold, For a fight that’s a sight to behold, So we stand up, and cheer and shout, For the Akron Blue and Gold! Zzzip! Zip go the Zippers! Zzzip! Zip go the Zippers! Akron U, Gold and Blue, All for you, and the Zippers too! We cheer the Akron Blue and Gold, We cheer as the colors unfold. We pledge anew, we’re all for you, As the team goes crashing through, Fight! Fight! We cheer the Akron warriors bold, For a fight that’s a sight to behold, So we stand up, and cheer and shout, For the Akron Blue and Gold!
GoZips.com/IMPACT2020