Three and a half years ago, Fr. Engh's Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics and the Trustees made the decision to invest in Santa Clara Athletics with the goal to become nationally relevant in major sports by the 2020-21 season.
Their first major decision was the hiring of Dr. Renee Baumgartner as Athletics Director.
Now, three + years into the makeover, I was wondering, where are we? What is our athletics "G.P.A." - Game Performances Average?
There's no question, the entire foundation of athletics has been turned on its ear, from a program that was on was on life support funding for 50 years, to one that has "venture fund" type capital to invest and resuscitate our Athletics' reputation.
I can just imagine what the A.D. search committee presented as the challenges to overcome. "We have a rich tradition of Athletic success that we wish to re-invigorate and get to National relevance. You'll have our full support and commitment do this. A couple of things you should know as you consider this opportunity."
Your Athletics' operating budget is the lowest in the WCC.
Your major sports recruiting budget is constrained.
You have 40 fewer scholarships than your WCC competitors.
Your athletics' facilities are outdated and need a make over.
Many of your coaches have to fundraise to make ends meet.
It has been 20+ years since two of your most visible major sports, Men's Basketball and Baseball's, last NCAA tournament appearance.
Your alums and fan base feel dis-connected to the program.
The students who would support you, weren't yet born the last time Men's Basketball went to the NCAA tournament.
BUT, there are also positives. In 2015, you'll inherit a strong group of coaches and teams. W. Soccer is a perennial NCAA tournament team and already a national power. W. Basketball had a good 2015 -16 season earning a WNIT bid after 11 years since their last NCAA invite. W. Volleyball made the NCAA tournament in 2015 and has 11 other NCAA trips from 2000-2018. Lastly, M. Soccer made the 2015 NCAA tourney after a five year hiatus.
Sounds like the "dream" job, doesn't it? You're hired! Now go win WCC titles and get Men's Basketball and Baseball to the NCAA tournament, preferably now, but certainly by the 2020-21 season...
I admire the dedication of all the prior coaches and what they accomplished with these constraints.
So, after all the above, what's changed? Is our G.P.A. in major sports on track to national relevance? Honestly, there's been massive changes, but at mid-terms, our G.P.A. is a work in progress.
Consider this. Since July 2015, out of the seven most visible programs mentioned above, there are five new coaches; most of them in their first or second seasons. Complete reboot.
Culturally, winning is a real coaching measurement. Gone are the Kumbya days of "nice try."
The scholarship deltas vs other WCC schools is being whittled down, but still a long way to go. For example, with more scholarships, Men's Golf has been able to earn their highest national ranking.
Coaches no longer have to fundraise to make their program budget work.
Facilities have had a big make over and are actually starting to look like a top tier D1 program. The newly approved Athletic Excellence Center will make a major statement about where our program wants to go; much like what the amazing Campus build out has done for our academic reputation.
Recruiting budgets now support more international travel where we can build an SCU pipeline of players.
There is real marketing money not only for game day promotions, but to legitimize "stampede ahead" as part of our active branding strategy.
Additional Athletic support staffing has been beefed up with experienced people to provide more horsepower to make our teams more successful.
As alums and fans. we take our pot shots that we're still not winning enough and competitive with the top three in WCC MBB as well as complaints that Renee and Coach Sendek were the wrong choices - one inexperienced and the other past his prime.
I'm as impatient as the next person, but sometimes I feel like my/our arrogance gets in the way of reality. I'll call it the "big hat, no cattle" syndrome.
The expectations that just because we're Santa Clara we should just be better without laying the foundation and doing the hard work it takes to actually get better. That it's somehow easy to reverse 50 years of athletic program mediocrity in three years.
I wish it was - and I hate it that it's not.
But, the BIGGEST thing for me is that we ARE investing! Building a foundation with real money and commitment not have just a "one and done," but sustained successes. Mistakes and missteps are going to happen. This is uncharted territory for SCU - actually saying out loud and trying to achieve national relevance.
SCU is arguably best suited among the WCC teams not named Gonzaga or BYU to get it done. It's not just big thinking that makes this happen, but big $$$$. Our new Billion dollar campaign speaks to this overall vision. I haven't heard of any other WCC school even dream about; let alone raising a Billion.
I have no idea if Renee and Coach Sendek can get us there on the Athletics and MBB fronts. I do know they're putting in the work.
Right now our Athletic's G.P.A. is about a 2.5 or C+. A strong foundation for the long term is happening. However, since 2015, there's not enough winning in major sports. Five new head coaches and staffs are working hard to build contenders. For example, Men's Baseball, under first year coach Rusty
Filter, doubled their prior year win total finishing with a 26-26 season. FYI, Baseball hasn't had a break even or better season in nine years.
Men's Basketball is still floundering against the WCC top three in what's become a "triage" season. Three starters lost and four of the guys playing new positions. Of our last seven games, four are on the road and three are at Leavey - including St. Mary's and USF.
There's lots of learning and studying going on and finals are approaching - "national relevance by 2020-21."
It's certainly a roller coaster, but a ride I'd rather be on than just sitting on the sidelines like the past 50 years.
Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco
Your Athletics' operating budget is the lowest in the WCC.
Your major sports recruiting budget is constrained.
You have 40 fewer scholarships than your WCC competitors.
Your athletics' facilities are outdated and need a make over.
Many of your coaches have to fundraise to make ends meet.
It has been 20+ years since two of your most visible major sports, Men's Basketball and Baseball's, last NCAA tournament appearance.
Your alums and fan base feel dis-connected to the program.
The students who would support you, weren't yet born the last time Men's Basketball went to the NCAA tournament.
BUT, there are also positives. In 2015, you'll inherit a strong group of coaches and teams. W. Soccer is a perennial NCAA tournament team and already a national power. W. Basketball had a good 2015 -16 season earning a WNIT bid after 11 years since their last NCAA invite. W. Volleyball made the NCAA tournament in 2015 and has 11 other NCAA trips from 2000-2018. Lastly, M. Soccer made the 2015 NCAA tourney after a five year hiatus.
Sounds like the "dream" job, doesn't it? You're hired! Now go win WCC titles and get Men's Basketball and Baseball to the NCAA tournament, preferably now, but certainly by the 2020-21 season...
I admire the dedication of all the prior coaches and what they accomplished with these constraints.
So, after all the above, what's changed? Is our G.P.A. in major sports on track to national relevance? Honestly, there's been massive changes, but at mid-terms, our G.P.A. is a work in progress.
Consider this. Since July 2015, out of the seven most visible programs mentioned above, there are five new coaches; most of them in their first or second seasons. Complete reboot.
Culturally, winning is a real coaching measurement. Gone are the Kumbya days of "nice try."
The scholarship deltas vs other WCC schools is being whittled down, but still a long way to go. For example, with more scholarships, Men's Golf has been able to earn their highest national ranking.
Coaches no longer have to fundraise to make their program budget work.
Facilities have had a big make over and are actually starting to look like a top tier D1 program. The newly approved Athletic Excellence Center will make a major statement about where our program wants to go; much like what the amazing Campus build out has done for our academic reputation.
Recruiting budgets now support more international travel where we can build an SCU pipeline of players.
There is real marketing money not only for game day promotions, but to legitimize "stampede ahead" as part of our active branding strategy.
Additional Athletic support staffing has been beefed up with experienced people to provide more horsepower to make our teams more successful.
As alums and fans. we take our pot shots that we're still not winning enough and competitive with the top three in WCC MBB as well as complaints that Renee and Coach Sendek were the wrong choices - one inexperienced and the other past his prime.
I'm as impatient as the next person, but sometimes I feel like my/our arrogance gets in the way of reality. I'll call it the "big hat, no cattle" syndrome.
The expectations that just because we're Santa Clara we should just be better without laying the foundation and doing the hard work it takes to actually get better. That it's somehow easy to reverse 50 years of athletic program mediocrity in three years.
I wish it was - and I hate it that it's not.
But, the BIGGEST thing for me is that we ARE investing! Building a foundation with real money and commitment not have just a "one and done," but sustained successes. Mistakes and missteps are going to happen. This is uncharted territory for SCU - actually saying out loud and trying to achieve national relevance.
SCU is arguably best suited among the WCC teams not named Gonzaga or BYU to get it done. It's not just big thinking that makes this happen, but big $$$$. Our new Billion dollar campaign speaks to this overall vision. I haven't heard of any other WCC school even dream about; let alone raising a Billion.
I have no idea if Renee and Coach Sendek can get us there on the Athletics and MBB fronts. I do know they're putting in the work.
Right now our Athletic's G.P.A. is about a 2.5 or C+. A strong foundation for the long term is happening. However, since 2015, there's not enough winning in major sports. Five new head coaches and staffs are working hard to build contenders. For example, Men's Baseball, under first year coach Rusty
Filter, doubled their prior year win total finishing with a 26-26 season. FYI, Baseball hasn't had a break even or better season in nine years.
Men's Basketball is still floundering against the WCC top three in what's become a "triage" season. Three starters lost and four of the guys playing new positions. Of our last seven games, four are on the road and three are at Leavey - including St. Mary's and USF.
There's lots of learning and studying going on and finals are approaching - "national relevance by 2020-21."
It's certainly a roller coaster, but a ride I'd rather be on than just sitting on the sidelines like the past 50 years.
Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebuckingbronco
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