A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
July 2002
Every year we have our sites set on specific goals. This past year's initiatives were named the "Three F's - Fans, Facilities and Fund Raising." I would like to address our success in each of these separately.
Fans
Increasing fan participation was a goal for this year's program. Indeed, the enthusiasm and attendance figures at LMU athletic events were at a five-year high. Here are some of the highlights:
- Completed successful women's basketball season ticket campaign producing over 200% increase in ticket revenue.
- The overall student attendance in many sports, not just men's basketball, has significantly increased from last year to this year. (men's soccer is up from 671 to 853, women's volleyball from 591 to 997,women's basketball from 509 to 878, and men's basketball from 3027 to 4169).
- The overall attendance in general has also increased over 33% in men's water polo, women's volleyball, women's basketball, and men's basketball from the previous year.
- We have put together a program within summer orientation to teach the incoming freshman what it is to be a Lion and how much fun it can be to attend and cheer for their teams.
- We have increased the attendance of Madness at Midnight significantly - this year nearly 2,000 attended.
- We have taken great strides in making Homecoming a tradition on campus as well as with our Alumni.
- The addition of a new student pep band during our home men's and women's basketball games. This band will also be attending games of other teams in the upcoming year (Volleyball, Soccer, etc.).
- The addition of "The Cage" was tremendous in creating a positive and fun atmosphere at our men's and women's basketball games. It gives the students a way to be a part of the team by being a member of "The Official Student Fan section of LMU Basketball." LMU Athletics is becoming a fun place to go for students rather than the last place to go.
- Community involvement has increased and we bring in CYO groups, Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, AYSO, Inner City Youth, local Elementary Schools, Rotary with the Bookmark Program, Police and Fire Departments, Air Force Military personnel, etc.
Our efforts to market and promote the program will continue in the coming year.
Facilities
The athletics physical plant has benefited from gifts and support of the Division of Student Affairs. This year's major improvements have been:
- B. Ann Gersten Aquatics Scoreboard erected in the Burns Recreational Center Pool. The board was a gift from Al Gersten in memory of his mother and will enable us to have a first class facility as we host the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship in December.
- Mikos Blue Monster built as part of the left field wall in Page Stadium. The wall and scoreboard was possible because of a gift from Paul and Suzi Mikos and gives LMU's baseball stadium one of the most unique features in college athletics.
- Jane Browne Bove Boathouse was dedicated this February. Tom Bove's generous donation permitted the construction of one of the finest boathouses on the west coast.
- The Division of Student Affairs and the soccer programs raised the dollars to build stands on Sullivan Field to create a stadium effect for those sports.
- Through an energy loan that Operations and Maintenance received, Gersten Pavilion's ceiling has been painted and lighting has been improved. Additional dollars were used to improve the sound system in Gersten Pavilion.
It was also important for the University to realize that the athletics facilities are not comparable to other institutions in the West Coast Conference. A Regents Task Force was commissioned to determine the extent that athletic facilities should be included in the University's Strategic Plan. The result has been a strong commitment to enhance the environment in which our athletes compete and our fans cheer.
Fundraising
This year was a year in which the annual fund raising effort for LMU Athletics went through a transformation. LionsFund is now that organization that is responsible for raising dollars to assist with the yearly financial obligations of the athletic program, most notable student-athlete scholarships. Its five-year goal is an ambitious one, yet it needs to become a reality if LMU Athletics is to continue its path toward national success. Although this first year will not result in meeting the financial goal, the manner in which LionsFund is to function in the future has been established and attaining future goals is expected.
Major gift fundraising was also a priority. Four major gifts and pledges and numerous smaller gifts were received that totaled over $500,000. These gifts resulted in four additions to our facilities that have been monumental. The Athletics Director's Council has been formed. The Council's purpose is to be involved with major gift solicitation for the Athletics Capital Campaign and Endowment Fund.
The Athletics Staff is pleased with the progress that we have made in so many areas this year and we hope to continue to develop the program so that it can maintain its status as a source of pride for the University and its alumni. We will continue to pay attention to the "Three - F's."
Future Initiatives
This coming year's initiatives will focus on three areas. The first is to establish the groundwork for making the Athletics Capital Campaign a success. Finalizing concrete plans, naming opportunities, identifying potential donors and making the case for the important role that athletics plays in campus life will serve as the foundation for the success of the campaign.
In two years, LMU's Athletics program will come under NCAA scrutiny as we go through the self-study process for accreditation. Beginning to establish the committees and organizational structure for broad base involvement will be critical to a successful outcome and certification without conditions.
Finally, we will continue to increase our efforts to make the public more aware of LMU and its athletics program. We have already begun planning for the following:
- To develop the Lion Audio Network (Radio and Internet broadcasts) to include every men's and women's basketball game and a total of 90 broadcasts throughout the 2002-2003 athletic year.
- To develop strategies for corporate involvement on these broadcasts and website. Our web site hits have grown from an average of 40,000 per month in the 2000-01 year to over 113,800 hits this current year. We anticipate averaging 200,000 hits per month next year.
- A major initiative is to negotiate a local television contract that will increase the visibility of the LMU Athletic Department and Loyola Marymount University as a whole. This goal is to include adding two to five additional basketball broadcasts on local and regional television, bringing the Lions' average number of broadcasts equal to other institutions in the West Coast Conference. In addition, we seek to produce a monthly or quarterly television show highlighting all LMU athletic events. The success of this endeavor will hinge on corporate support.
- Another initiative is to develop programs to develop relationships with local media entities. A major part of these programs will be the promotion of the 2002 Men's Water Polo championships that the University will host in December of 2002.
Although much has been accomplished there is still a great deal to do. No one person or department can accomplish all that has been achieved. It takes a committed University community to raise an athletics program. We are truly grateful to President Robert Lawton, S.J. for his continued support in so many ways. In like manner, Vice Presidents Lane Bove, Joe Jabbra, John Oester, Charles Rasberry and Dave Trump have been integral in creating the momentum we now experience. The Department also recognizes the Board of Trustees, the Board of Regents and all associated with Loyola Marymount University for their staunch support of Lions Athletics. It is our hope that we continue to improve upon our three major goals, be a source of pride for students and alumni and be one vehicle to inform the populace about the values of this unique and outstanding University.
