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  • USD Sports

    What are your thoughts on this?

    http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/new...ELEASE_ID=1831

    VERMILLION, S.D. -- University of South Dakota Athletic Director Joel Nielsen, citing competitiveness, funding and compliance, announced Tuesday that the South Dakota Athletics Department will take numerous actions in a three-year, three-prong plan.

    The cornerstone of the plan is a commitment to invest $1.126 million in the athletics program during the next three years. These new funds will be directed to scholarships, facility enhancement, expanded staff, recruiting and other areas.

    This announcement of the initial phase of the plan follows a 12-month review of the department by an Athletic Review Committee, appointed by USD President James W. Abbott in April 2003. The review committee, chaired by Julie Greenfield of Sioux Falls, S.D., submitted a preliminary report to Nielsen on March 26. The report contained an assessment of all 18 USD athletic programs, based on a predetermined set of criteria. After submission of the report, Nielsen assessed the committee’s recommendations, and in consultation with President Abbott and Vice President of Finance and Administration Greg Redlin, developed a plan that addresses competitiveness, funding and compliance. The Athletic Review Committee will continue to develop a more long range strategic plan for future release.

    “I want to thank the Athletic Review Committee for its contributions during the past 12 months and look forward to their continuing work as we build a strategic plan for the future,” said Nielsen. “They have submitted preliminary recommendations that we believe keeps our athletic program on high ground. I am encouraged that we are making substantial changes that bring equity to our athletic program.”

    In this plan, Nielsen said USD will make substantial increases in its women’s sports budget, while also making corrective measures in participation levels, increasing female participation opportunities by 23 percent. The plan calls for the addition of 19 women scholarships, increasing the women’s recruiting budget, upgrading facilities, among other actions in the next three years. This plan also retains competitive funding for all programs (male and female). USD will finance this new plan through internal reallocation, student fees and increasing fundraising efforts. As part of this action, USD will discontinue its baseball program following the 2004 season.

    As has been the case at various schools across the nation, including in the North Central Conference, budgeting problems have forced the discontinuation of athletic programs. Nielsen noted that ending baseball at USD was a difficult decision, given the tradition of baseball at the school and the impact it would have on 38 student-athletes, as well as the coaching staff of the program. However, the decision was in the best interest for the future of Coyote Athletics. The move to discontinue baseball will allow $100,000 to be reallocated, including 2.5 scholarships, to other programs.

    “I am saddened that this measure to discontinue baseball had to be taken,” said Nielsen. “However, we have to address the problems at hand. It is important that we have an athletic program that operates under fiscally responsible objectives, meets competitiveness expectations, while addressing gender equity and Title IX requirements.

  • #2
    Re: USD Sports

    I want the student-athletes in the baseball program to know that we will do everything we can to help them,” said Nielsen. “We will assist them in relocating to other programs, if that is their intention.”

    The members of the baseball team will be able to transfer to other NCC schools or to other NCAA Division I, II and III or NAIA programs.

    “We certainly want to thank Coach Brian Atchison for six years of dedication to the baseball program and the University,” said Nielsen. “We also want to thank the baseball student-athletes for their hard work and commitment.”

    During his time at South Dakota, Atchison had a record of 139-116 at South Dakota, including a 47-61 mark in the NCC.

    The recommendations by the review committee reaffirmed USD’s commitment to Division II and its continued competitiveness within the North Central Conference. USD will now have 17 varsity sports competing at the NCAA Division II level. In the short run, Nielsen does not expect to add any new sports. He also noted that the University does not have any plans to make further cuts in its athletic programs.

    “What we have identified are targeted goals,” said Nielsen. “We will continue to assess and make adjustments as the situation warrants. Our main focus must be to operate under fiscally sound strategies, while doing what is in the athletic department’s best interests.”

    Nielsen said that the entire athletic program has to meet an increased level of accountability and shared responsibility.

    “We must incorporate the measures outlined in our plan or we may have to take further action down the road,” he said. “However, I have confidence in our staff, as they been extremely cooperative and helpful in this process. Working together and sharing responsibility will be the key to successful implementation of this plan.”

    Included in USD’s plan is the addition of 19 scholarships for women’s sports and increasing the female coaching staff. The staff additions will include a full-time senior women’s administrator, a recently hired assistant women’s volleyball coach, two graduate assistants for women’s track and field and one graduate assistant for women’s soccer. Additionally, USD will upgrade the salary of both the golf and women’s tennis coach. The safety and health of the Coyote student athletes will also be addressed through the addition of four graduate assistants in the sports medicine program.

    USD will put $350,000 into upgrading the locker room facilities for female athletes in the DakotaDome. Another $80,000 will go to upgrading the soccer, softball and women’s tennis facilities and fields. Additionally, USD will add $25,000 to the women’s recruiting budget.

    “The decision to discontinue baseball, address roster management, and other actions came after the review committee made a series of recommendations to address deficiencies in the athletic department. Most important, these measures are necessary for us to incorporate equity and fairness among the men’s and women’s programs at USD,” said Nielsen. “We believe we are doing what is best in the department’s short- and long-term interests.”

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: USD Sports

      Summary of Plan – Objectives

      1. Roster management. USD will incorporate roster management in its athletic programs. USD will take a number of actions to correct the differential between female and male athlete participation. In terms of male sports, football will immediately capped at 95, a reduction from the 113 reported in 2002-03. Other male programs will be required to adhere to roster caps. In terms of women’s sports, the roster sizes will increase over the three-year time frame. The increase of 61 female participants moves the total to 267, creating a 52 to 48 percent female to male differential.

      2. Survey female student body. USD will conduct a survey of female students at USD to determine the preferences of sports and the perspective about female athletics at USD.

      3. Create a gender equity oversight committee. In an effort to more closely monitor USD’s compliance to Title IX issues, USD will establish a Gender Equity Oversight Committee that will be responsible for ensuring that student interests and abilities are being addressed.

      4. Add 19 female scholarships. These scholarships will be funded and implemented over a three-year period.

      5. Implement and fund equipment, supply and travel policies.

      6. Additional Staff. The staff additions will include a full-time senior women’s administrator, a recently hired assistant women’s volleyball coach, two graduate assistants for women’s track and field and one graduate assistant for women’s soccer. Additionally, USD will upgrade the salary of both the golf and women’s tennis coach.

      7. Facility improvement and upgrades. Facility improvements will include remodeling the women’s locker room area. USD will implement a facilities-related capital improvement and maintenance plan, which will include shower and locker room upgrades for the female sports at an estimated cost of $350,000. In addition, USD will address the outdoor practice and competition facilities for softball, soccer and women’s tennis. The total cost for these improvements is $80,000.

      8. Sports Medicine. Concerning the continuing safety and health of student-athletes, USD will add four graduate positions in the sports medicine area.

      9. Enhance the recruiting budget for women’s sports. An additional $25,000 will be added to the women’s recruiting budget to balance the difference between the men’s and women’s programs.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: USD Sports

        Not a surprising move given the state of affairs at the U.  It is a sad day for the Coyote Baseball players.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: USD Sports

          I feel bad for the players and coaches, and I hope them the best in relocating, but I can't help but find some satisfaction in this. Hopefully some of their better players will look SDSU's way.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: USD Sports

            This all makes Fred Oien's family matter seem insignigicant. They can pick on a individual for family problems, meanwhile an entire department is under fire for not following Title IX and a host of everything that you can think of. Where are those smart aleck students now with their "cute t-shirts"? Could mens basketball be in the next wave of cuts? Tongue in cheek question.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: USD Sports

              Here is the Argus story on the USD baseball team.

              http://www.argusleader.com/sports/We...article1.shtml

              USD cutting baseball after the 2004 season
              Mick Garry
              mgarry@argusleader.com

              published: 4/7/2004

              Budget, Title IX compliance cited as chief reasons for move

              The University of South Dakota announced Tuesday that this will be the last season for baseball at the school, citing budget and Title IX compliance considerations.

              USD is in the process of enacting a three-year plan that will direct $1.26 million toward toward improvements in women's locker room facilities at the DakotaDome, as well as the funding of 19 additional scholarships for women's sports. Expanding staff, recruiting budgets and rosters in women's sports are also part of the plan.

              Of the $1.26 million, $100,000 is coming from cutting baseball. In addition, new funds will be raised via other internal reallocations, student fees and increased fundraising efforts.

              "We were forced to look at options and alternatives," USD athletic director Joel Nielsen said. "We felt that this was the only plan that would put us in position to insure we have future success in our programs in relation to funding, compliance and competitiveness." . . .

              Freshman pitcher Josh Lundin has a 4-1 record with a 2.90 ERA for the 18-13 Coyote baseball team, but those were not the numbers the squad was hearing about Tuesday when coach Brian Atchison told players this was going to be the last year of the program.

              "Things got pretty tense during the meeting," said Lundin, a Rapid City native. "Even though we knew it might be coming, it really hit home today. There are a lot of guys on this team who were looking forward to building things up and have something to shoot for. They got a little frustrated today. I feel bad for the juniors, especially. It's going to be tough for them to get chances to play elsewhere."

              The baseball program was discontinued once before, from 1986 to 1991. Atchison, the coach for the last six years, said he's a strong supporter of Title IX initiatives but felt the pinch like everyone else after the announcement.

              "The kids took it tough," Atchison said. "Eyes don't lie. There were some tough eyes today, including mine. We have 14 kids who can't finish their senior year at this school if they want to keep playing baseball. . . .



              Comment


              • #8
                Re: USD Sports

                Here is a little more to chew on.

                http://www.sdsucollegian.com/news/20...t-642043.shtml

                Board of Regents raises S.D. tuition 5.5 percent
                Additional increases mean average undergrad to pay $250 more yearly
                By Toby Uecker
                Published: Tuesday, March 23, 2004


                . . . In addition to the tuition hike, Regents agreed to a student activity fee raise. A combination of multiple initiatives, the overall hike is estimated to put an additional $16 on students' bills over the next three years.

                The general activity fee increase, like part of the tuition hike, will help augment teacher salaries. Additionally the fee increase is designed to bring the state system in full compliance with Title IX requirements for funding balance between men's and women's sports.  . . .


                All the FES people were worried that SDSU's move to D-I was going to cost the students extra money and look it is our friends to the south and their inability to play by the rules that is forcing a fee hike.  :


                Go State!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: USD Sports

                  Originally posted by 89rabbit
                  Here is a little more to chew on.

                  http://www.sdsucollegian.com/news/20...t-642043.shtml

                  Board of Regents raises S.D. tuition 5.5 percent
                  Additional increases mean average undergrad to pay $250 more yearly
                  By Toby Uecker
                  Published: Tuesday, March 23, 2004


                  . . . In addition to the tuition hike, Regents agreed to a student activity fee raise. A combination of multiple initiatives, the overall hike is estimated to put an additional $16 on students' bills over the next three years.

                  The general activity fee increase, like part of the tuition hike, will help augment teacher salaries. Additionally the fee increase is designed to bring the state system in full compliance with Title IX requirements for funding balance between men's and women's sports.  . . .


                  All the FES people were worried that SDSU's move to D-I was going to cost the students extra money and look it is our friends to the south and their inability to play by the rules that is forcing a fee hike.  :


                  Go State!
                  Typical of USD. While all of the other schools were getting in compliance with Title IX years ago USD was burying their heads in the sand. They do the exact same thing at the medical school level where the recommendation for years has been to move the campus to Sioux Falls. Instead, they are now pumping millions of dollars into a major renovation of the medical sciences building in Vermillion. There is not even a teaching hospital in Vermillion for medical students to be trained. Its kind of like putting a new roof on an old grain bin and calling it better (did they do that too?).

                  In the end this lack of foresight is compounded by poor judgement and even worse administration at USD and it ends up costing all of the students at the state funded universities. I think the Boad of Regents recognizes this but where is our voice in the legislature? Its time to start supporting institutions run by those with clear goals and a bright future. Let me spell it out for you slow people (Kloucek) out there, S.D.S.U.
                  We are here to add what we can to life, not get what we can from life. -Sir William Osler

                  We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: USD Sports

                    There is no denying that USD needed to make this cut. For Title IX purposes, but also for a host of other reasons. This administration is now doing the right things---something that was not being done when Kelly Higgins was A.D. Joel Nielson and James Abbott, and even Vice President Greg Redlin have all done commendable jobs in citing the problems and providing swift actions on them. However, USD was not necessarily in dire straits as far as Title IX is concerned. You have to meet one of the three prongs and they certainly did that. The problem that ALL of the state's Universities are facing is that the Board of Regents is now requiring that the institution is in compliance with all three prongs. Simply put, USD may not have been in a great situation---but there could be other schools in the state that also take action to create gender equity. That doesn't necessarily mean cuts have to be made---but it is certainly easier to do that than to create opportunities. Furthermore, I am not sure what this has to do with Fred Oien's legal troubles? The only comparison I can see is that they are both stories that WILL be covered by the media and WILL get a negative spin no matter what angle is taken.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: USD Sports

                      coyotefanatic ... you are downplaying USD's failure on Title IX and trying to use other state schools to support your case. I believe USD was the only school to be nailed by a Title IX suit. I don't think anybody has to say anything else. They can't spin this like they did on the "Ivy League of the Plains" horse crap that Jim Abbott said in response to the DI move. They were wrong, and the only reason they are changing is because they got caught. Let's not spin this by saying they were meeting any criteria. You don't pay a fine and damages by meeting appropriate criteria.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: USD Sports

                        Coyote Fanatic forgot to mention that Jack Doyle, AD before Higgins fired two women coaches that subsequently sued USD and the Board of Regents.  From my understanding the BOR was not pleased at all with USD and their stupid AD, who was fired and reassigned.  Saw old Jack in the broken restroom last fall at the SDSU-USD football game.

                        Not only did USD have to pony up Legal damages to the former coaches, but the Board of Regents also had to give some of their cash.

                         Maybe too, this stupid action gave SDSU the green light on going D1AA.  Those BOR reps with USD connections like Harvey Jewett where really hog tied on this issue because of the embarrassment in losing the law suit.

                        Those USD connected regents sure did not have much to say when the move was considered back in December 2002.

                         SDSU is suppose to jump through hoops to please the BOR which they have done, but what about USD and their legal damages?   Talk about tax-payer's dough going down the toilet, thank you Jack Doyle.  Hoards to think lawyers are trained at USD, and their own faculty and staff can not follow personnel procedures.

                        Maybe we should move the law school to Brookings since most of the grads got their undergrad degree from SDSU and are already loyal Jackrabbit fans.

                        This legal action is one that USD wants to sweep under the carpet and why was it not front page news at the Argus Leader?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: USD Sports

                          Actually, NDSU had a title IX suit in the 1980's. The complaint was about the number of coaches and recruiting budgets. NDSU made changes and it turned out for the best but going DI is going to require a lot more work to stay compliant with Title IX.

                          It turned out well for NDSU and hopefully the same thing will happen at USD.

                          One point of interest to SDSU fans is that if USD raises activity fees, you'd think SDSU could do the same.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: USD Sports

                            Originally posted by tony

                            One point of interest to SDSU fans is that if USD raises activity fees, you'd think SDSU could do the same.
                            Tony:
                            That could be a trump card yet to be played.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: USD Sports

                              I have thought of that too. However if things go like they usually do, all students in SD will be paying for USD's mistake.  Need I remind anyone that the State payed for the roof at the Grain Bin (I mean the Dakota Dome), and they were nice enough to pass a bill (just recently) to let us spend OUR money that we raised for the new Wellness Center (no State money provided).

                              Go SDSU, the biggest and the best!   ;D

                              Comment

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