Conceptual drawing of South Campus (PDF)
Strategic plan summary (PDF)

8:23 a.m., Dec. 10, 2008----New and improved facilities, competitive commitment and increased opportunities for recreational activities are among goals set forth in a new strategic plan announced by the University of Delaware's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Services.

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The plan was drafted as part of the University of Delaware's Path to Prominence, and it will guide the future of varsity sports and recreational programs. Like the University's strategic plan, many ideas were explored and UD will continue to stage initiatives judiciously and focus on facing current challenges in light of the economic environment.

“Despite the current world-wide economic stress that is impacting the U.S., state and University community, we remain committed to our overall strategic plan as well as this plan for athletics and recreation services. Given the uncertain economic times some of our goals may take longer to achieve that we had hoped,” stated UD President Patrick Harker.

In addition, Harker stressed that the need for donor support to fund many of the athletics and recreation services' projects in the future.

“The key priorities set forth in this plan are to increase opportunities for participation for all students in club sports, intramurals and fitness and recreation programs; to ensure the competitiveness of varsity sports; to promote and support the welfare of student-athletes; and to comply with Title IX, a federal mandate that calls for equal opportunities for men and women,” according to director of athletics Edgar Johnson.

The plan calls for improved recreational opportunities for the student body to better serve the needs of the many students participating in club sports, intramurals, fitness programs and open recreation programs.

It calls for improved recreational facilities, noting that Carpenter Sports Building, first constructed in 1943 and most recently renovated in 2000, cannot meet the space demands of its various users. It recommends a new recreation center equipped with a state-of-the-art aquatics center.

The plan also includes specific goals designed to support those priorities. UD will seek to enhance recreation and fitness facilities, to support the academic success of student-athletes, to support fair play, to establish national recognition for the quality of varsity sports programs, to ensure varsity teams achieve competitive balance by consistently ranking in the top one-third of the Colonial Athletic Association and routinely competing for conference championships and to create an aggressive athletics development plan and corresponding staffing plan to secure the funds necessary for fiscal stability.

The plan speaks to the rich tradition of success of University of Delaware athletics, a tradition marked by the marriage of highly competitive varsity sports with a commitment to rigorous academics - what retired College Hall of Fame football coach Harold R. (Tubby) Raymond called “athademics.” Attracting quality student-athletes and helping them achieve academic excellence will remain a key goal of the Blue Hen athletics program.

Recruiting is the “life's blood” of any NCAA Division I athletics program, the plan notes, adding that modern athletic and academic support facilities are required to attract the very best student-athletes. It encourages the University to give “the highest priority” to meeting such basic needs as increased and improved locker rooms, weight rooms, practice facilities, training rooms, academic support area, office space, basketball practice gym and softball field upgrades.

A key objective for student-athlete advancement and welfare includes the construction of a student-athlete performance center. This facility will be the centerpiece of the south athletic campus (see conceptual drawing) that will serve all University student-athletes, both academically and athletically. The first phase of this new facility will include a state of the art academic support center, student lounge, sports medicine area, strength and conditioning facilities, plus a new University of Delaware Hall of Fame Showcase. The second phase will include support and athletic training rooms, as well as facilities for men's and women's basketball and volleyball.

In addition, studies into the need to construct a new football and multi-purpose stadium and also a larger basketball arena and convocation center on the south campus will be conducted.

Short- to mid-range plans call for a new basketball practice facility, renovations to the football locker area, artificial turf for Delaware Stadium, additional offices for coaches and staff, an indoor artificial turf practice facility, artificial turf for the baseball diamond at Bob Hannah Stadium and a press box for the Delaware Mini-Stadium.

The softball field is in need of immediate major renovations, according to the plan, which also cites current or recently completed projects - artificial turf fields for football practice and other activities, resurfacing of the artificial turf at Fred Rullo Stadium, a new video scoreboard for Delaware Stadium and the addition of an auxiliary south end scoreboard, renovation of the HVAC system for Rawstrom Pool and a new swimming scoreboard.

A section on funding calls for increased financial support for varsity teams, increased activity in athletics development and the University of Delaware Athletics Fund (UDAF), and a point system for seating and parking at Blue Hen football and basketball games.

Another goal calls upon the institution to adhere to but also move beyond mere statistical compliance with Title IX by providing opportunities and resources consistent with its principles. In order to bring the University into compliance with federal Title IX provisions, UD will add women's golf as an intercollegiate sport while de-emphasizing men's indoor track.

Given economic realities and the large roster required to field a football program, it is impossible to add enough women's sports to significantly alter the balance of opportunities without affecting the varsity status of some men's sports.

“Several men's sports were considered during this process, as well as the impact on student-athletes, minority student-athletes and the varsity coaching staff. We anticipate that this will have minimal impact on our running program,” stated Johnson.

Cross country and outdoor track and field will remain as varsity sports. Men interested in competing in indoor track continue to have an avenue through UD's highly successful club sports program, which includes national powers in men's ice hockey and men's crew.

Johnson also noted that the CAA does not sponsor indoor track and field.

No full-time staff members will be affected, as Jim Fischer remains the head coach of cross country and director of running for UD.

Despite de-emphasizing one men's sport, the University will still have 23 intercollegiate programs, above the average in NCAA Division I and more than every team in the Colonial Athletic Association except for the College of William and Mary, which also has 23.

The report concludes that “the challenge we face is to continue to provide the resources necessary to attract quality students and help them be successful in adapting to the inevitable changing environmental and competitive scene that is intercollegiate life. At the same time, we need to steadfastly maintain our institutional commitment to our values, traditions and principles that are at the core of who we are, what we believe, and what we do.”