Renee Baumgartner - The Future of Santa Clara University Athletics - Part 2

When it comes to Santa Clara Athletics, and particularly Men's Basketball, our season ticket holders and fans have taken the "Missouri" approach.  Show me...

Maybe, in more relevant terms, we've become a mass of "doubting- thomases" after two decades of waiting for the "how good it's going to be. "  

Oh, and then we "fumble" the new Athletic Director hiring process; maybe the most important athletics personnel decision we've made now that the Commission and Trustees approved SCU going national.  

Now, we just want it TO BE...

Amazingly, we're still here...Supporting, paying, hoping, and yes, griping.  It's been s-o-o long since a Men's Basketball NCAA bid, it's now almost a "bucket list" item...

When I mentioned all this "field of dreams" past to our new athletic director, she kinda just interrupted me and just went to "here are my top priorities."  No binders, glossy charts, or rhetoric like in the past era - boom.  A little "edge" to it...Good.

A short preview:  Not in priority order.

Branding 

Transform and leverage SCU's identity into becoming nationally prominent in Athletics. 

Fundraising

Engage and awaken our dormant donors and build a broader base of new donors who will "buy in" to the plan. The University must lead here by allocating significant money from the operating budget.  If the "U" doesn't invest, why should donors?

Marketing

That's NOT a typo.  Energize a broader community of potential SCU supporters through events, media, and leveraging better on court and field performances.

  

Organization

Simplify and streamline reporting to allow for more focus, autonomy and decision making. 

I think priorities are great, but we all love results a lot more.  I'm not being "homer" here, but there was a distinct "air" of expectations in the delivery.  Straight, crisp. 

There's more...

When asked, "What's our catch up plan from the severe lack of funding for athletics?"  The answer, more money will be coming, but she expects progress now...Harken back to her days as Oregon Women's golf coach where the budget was bleak.  She parlayed the Oregon reputation and was able to get the players needed to succeed.  Much like our Jerry Smith and Jon Wallace have done here.

"Doesn't want to hear that we can't get better."  

I asked, "What new performance measurements should coaches expect?"  Use new resources to recruit better, schedule higher, and of course, win some of those.  This will create opportunities to recruit better players, build even better schedules, etc...

With regard to Coach Keating's contract, again, without disclosing terms and details, it's clear Men's Basketball is the centerpiece of this makeover and everyone involved is expecting more.

I feel one of her biggest challenges is to educate both Fr. Engh and his council on the magnitude this move into competitive athletics involves.  

It's not like hiring a new Dean in the School of Engineering where fewer people may pay attention.  

When you hire a new Athletic Director and announce intentions to become nationally relevant - everyone cares.  I believe this naivete' was a shocker to our leadership.  Their "antennas" are up now.

Last question was, "What would you like SCU supporters and fans to know about the future of Santa Clara Athletics?"  Judge the results.  Turns out, Renee has a fair amount of "Missouri" in her fabric as well.  

She'll need it.

Fr. Engh has set the "bar" and declared to all in his introduction speech he expects our new A.D. to lead us to "extraordinary results."

We hope she's the "horse to bet on."

We'll all be watching with "2020" vision....

Also on Twitter @Fcrary.