Athletics Meeting September 15, 2023

The Athletics Meeting was held on September 15, 2023, at 9:45 a.m. in the Jefferson Room of the David Student Union with Chair of the Meeting Lindsey Carney Smith, Esq., presiding.

Present Board Members

Lindsey Carney Smith, Esq., Rector
Regina P. Brayboy
William A. Estrada, Esq.
John R. Lawson, II
Sean D. Miller
LTC (R) Boris G. Robinson

Absent from the Board

The Honorable Ronald L. Tillett

Present from the University

President Bill Kelly
Tom Kramer
Kyle McMullin
Deborah Roundtree
Adelia Thompson

Others Present

Rob Lange
Christine Ledford
Brian Puaca
Mary-Margaret Wells

On September 15, 2023, at 9:47 a.m. Rector Carney Smith started the meeting by thanking everyone for being there and asking everyone to give a short introduction.

Rector Carney Smith gave an introduction as to the purpose of this meeting. Five years ago, the idea was shared that there should be a council or a board whose focus is to raise money and awareness and engagement for athletics. The Athletics Advisory Council was formed and has continuously raised a million dollars annually. The purpose of the Athletics Advisory Council is to fundraise and listen to understand the landscape of D3 athletics. With President Kelly onboard, the decision was made to constitute a board committee to make decisions about where the future of Christopher Newport Athletics is headed. With budget cuts, Christopher Newport needs to think strategically about how we as a university can continue to deliver on our promise to our Captains before they set foot on campus.

Rector Carney Smith called on Mr. McMullin, the Director of Athletics.

Mr. McMullin discussed the agenda for the meeting.

Start looking at ourselves as an institution and strategic decisions that have been made over the last several decades have led us to now.
Look broader into the context of how that impacts our conference affiliation history, and how that impacts our role in the Division III landscape.
With the Division III landscape moving quickly, we are going to have to make decisions about where we fit and how we can continue to make strategic decisions for our students.
For decades we have been committed to providing a competitive experience for our students. Saying that we as an institution that cares about winning, and that winning matters is a point of differentiation that we have been able to take advantage of.
Strategically over the last 25 years, all head coaches have been moved to full-time positions where their primary responsibility is almost exclusively coaching.
If you’re going to compete for championships in Division III, you need to have first-class facilities to recruit students.

Mr. Lawson asked how many sports programs were at CNU. Mr. McMullin responded that there are technically 23 varsity sports. Sailing, Cheer, and Dance are all considered varsity sports. When it comes to the NCAA Championships that CNU competes in every year, there are 21 NCAA championships.

Mr. McMullin presented academic data to the group from the end of the Spring term. The report shows student-athletes performing academically in line with the general student population. Data from the freshman class shows that coaches are actively identifying kids who are adding value to campus in more ways than just being an athlete.

Mr. Lawson asked if we provide preference for academic scholarships for good athletes that will help get them to CNU. Mr. McMullin responded that the short answer is no. The way the NCAA and DIII make CNU report financial aid, they are looking for statistical outliers, if the student-athlete population receives institutional aid at a rate that is proportional to the non-student athletes or not.

Rector Carney Smith paused to give President Kelly a moment to reflect on the statistics discussed.

President Kelly said that 55% of the freshman class from out of state is an athlete, and that number could be higher if we had some merit scholarship money. CNU retains out-of-state talent at twice the level of any other public college in Virginia. The opportunities and the access are there both in the classroom and on the field.

Mr. Lawson asked how many full-time coaches and support staff there are in athletics. Mr. McMullin responded that there are 55 full-time employees within athletics, of that 55, approximately 20 are full-time support staff.

President Kelly added that at his prior institution, two teams had to shut down. Shutting down a program is something that no one wants to do, but you need to have a committee like this one because if you’re going to enter into that, it can’t just be the President’s decision or the Athletics Director’s decision, it has to be a decision by the board. Mr. Lawson asked if any of the 8 million dollars of needs-based funding from the state for scholarships go to athletics. Mr. McMullin answers that they do but are not specifically earmarked for athletics, and they can’t in the world of Division III. When awarding aid, any consideration of athletics participation in a financial aid award is considered a violation in Division III.

Mr. Lawson asked if we get any state funding in any part for athletics. Rector Carney Smith answered no- no facilities, no scholarships, no coaching stipends. In the budget that was just approved by the Commonwealth, there was a demanded 2% increase. The Commonwealth will fund a portion of the non-athletic 2%, but as a university, it has to fund the entirety of the 2% for all athletic salaries.

Mr. McMullin discussed the budget cuts this past year. Programs and people were not eliminated, money had to be taken out of sports operating budgets and out of the administrative budget.

Mr. McMullin discussed the data that shows the Learfield Directors Cup that measures the overall athletic success of an athletics program. Last year was the highest we have ever finished in the Directors Cup standings as an institution.

Mr. McMullin asked if anyone had questions.

Mr. Lawson asked how much is needed to fund everything this year. Mr. McMullin responded that this year, at the bare minimum the goal is 1.2 million in athletics. Rector Carney Smith added that as campaign conversations begin, part of it is there are not any endowed coaching positions.

Mr. Lawson thought that when the football program initially started, the coach was an endowment. Mr. McMullin answered that there was a commitment made that was not fulfilled.

Mr. Lawson wanted to know if funding came from naming opportunities and advertising. Mr. McMullin answered that most of our fundraised dollars on an annual basis come from what would be a traditional annual giving campaign.

Mr. Lawson asked what percentage of athletic funding comes from ticket sales. Mr. McMullin answered that it is actually pretty nominal.

Mr. McMullin discussed calling nights and the opportunity for folks to talk about their program.

President Kelly asked what the total was raised last year from calling nights. Mr. McMullin responds that it was close to $300,000.

Mr. Lawson asked if we have compared our fundraising practices to those of competing schools. Mr. McMullin answered that we have and that the model of having team-giving campaigns is very common practice within the Division III landscape, but like all things Christopher Newport, we have tried to do it in a way that is beyond what the standard in Division III.

Mr. Puaca asked what the overall budget is for athletics. Mr. McMullin answered that the actual operational funds are going to be about 2.1 million dollars.

Mr. McMullin went over the conference situation and the history of athletics at CNU starting in 1967.

Mr. Lawson asked which conference CNU fits in best. Rector Carney Smith answered, the ODAC- the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Mr. Lawson asked why we are not in that conference. Rector Carney Smith responded that they would not have us. Mr. McMullin added that membership in the ODAC is restricted to private schools.

Mr. Lawson asked if they were a good fit for any Division II conference. Mr. McMullin said that Division II may be a harder transition, Virginia is a dead area in the geographic footprint of Division II.

Mr. McMullin discussed his role in managing conference relationships. Two former Division III Athletic Directors hired to conduct a formal study of internal and external constituents concluded that the best path forward for CNU is to make the best of what we have in Division III right now. The Division II landscape is probably going to be a difficult one to find a comfortable footing in.

Mr. Lawson asked about making a new conference and taking the lead. Mr. McMullin answered that it would be great to take the top 5 programs out of ODAC, combine them with CNU, Salisbury, and Mary Washington, and create a conference that competitively across the board is one of the best in Division III Athletics. Rector Carney Smith added that the Coast to Coast conference that we are in was the brainchild of Mr. McMullin.

John Lawson asked if the political route had been taken. Rector Carney Smith says that will be discussed at the next meeting in November.

Mr. Lawson asked how far in advance are athletic schedules made. Mr. McMullin answered that the next two years were booked.

Mr. Astrada asked if there were any chances to grow the Coast to Coast conference. Mr. McMullin answered yes and that is what a lot of time is spent doing. Mr. Lawson asked about Corporate help. Rector Carney Smith responded that there is a naming contract coming up for renewal next year with TowneBank.

Rector Carney Smith closed with encouragement and thanked everyone for embarking on this journey.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:52 a.m.