UH Athletics' Strategic Plan (pdf)

HONOLULU--The University of Hawai`i at Manoa Athletics Director Ben Jay announced the department's strategic plan at a press conference on Thursday afternoon in the Stan Sheriff Center's Wong Hospitality Room. The strategic plan is being updated to address the urgent needs of the department and respond to a rapidly changing national landscape in intercollegiate athletics that includes the following:

    • Continued conference realignment brought about by the search for additional financial resources and a significant increase in television money.

    • The potential scenario that major conferences may create a new division within the NCAA or break away altogether.

    • Increased separation between the "haves and have-nots" among NCAA schools as exemplified by the gap in resources within college athletics that has never been greater and is growing.

    • The continuing "arms race" that includes building new and enhanced athletic facilities to attract the best prospective student-athletes and provide amenities for fans.

    • The need for Hawai'i to immediately create additional opportunities and enhance our presence in the Pacific Rim as a core part of our strategy.

"The time is now to position UH Athletics as an NCAA Top 50 program," Ben Jay, UH athletics director, said. "We need to be financially secure with an image, rank, and reputation that will make UH Athletics nationally recognized, matching the academic excellence that the University has already achieved."

As a means to this end, Jay has established some aggressive revenue goals for the coming year and is encouraging all UH stakeholders to consider increasing their commitment to the department, citing two current members of the Corporate Partner Program as examples.

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, a long-time Corporate Partner of the UH Athletics, has increased its financial commitment to UH Athletics, elevating from the Platinum level ($100,000 - $149,000) to the Diamond level ($150,000 and higher). In addition, Hawaii Pacific Health is a new UH Corporate Partner and has entered the program at the Diamond level. Hawai'i Pacific Health will work with UH Athletics to significantly improve the health care services for UH's student-athletes by providing in-kind services and supporting the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine. Hawai'i Pacific Health will provide UH student-athletes with coordinated care across its system and with other health care providers in the community.

Diamond Corporate Partners include: Anheuser-Busch, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Pacific Health, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Pepsi, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and Under Armour. Platinum Corporate Partners include: American Savings Bank, California Hotel & Casino, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii News Now, Hawaiian Telcom, and Jack in the Box. Additionally, 61 other companies are Corporate Partners below the Platinum level and 12 local dealerships participate in the courtesy-car program.  
 
"We are certainly grateful to all of our Corporate Partners for their dedication and support," Jay said. "At a time when our expenses are increasing at a significant rate, it's comforting to know that we have wonderful partners, who are willing to assist us as we strive to remain competitive in major-college athletics and move our program forward."
 
In addition to raising an additional $150,000 in Corporate Partner support, Jay's revenue goals for 2013-14 include:

    • Generating more than $6.95 million in ticket sales from all revenue sports, compared to the last year's total of $5.95 million.

    • Raising $700,000 in new revenues from donations and entrepreneurial activities.

    • Creating an annual grassroots fundraising portal that will generate an additional $500,000 in new donations.

    • Generating $250,000 in facility rental income, a $50,000 increase from last year's total of $200,000.

    • Seeking new revenue streams through a collaborative effort between AKA and the UH Foundation.

"These are aggressive goals but we need to set benchmarks in order to keep moving the needle and making progress," Jay said. "It's going to take a state-wide effort to position UH Athletics for the future and we'll be knocking on many doors in order to seek the necessary funding and support."

"We are proud to be a part of the University of Hawai`i ohana and the success of its student-athletes through our long-time support of the UH Athletics program," said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. "As a Hawaii-based company, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is committed to supporting our community's future leaders at the University of Hawai`i."

"Hawai'i Pacific Health is pleased to partner with the University of Hawai'i Athletics Department and the John A. Burns School of Medicine to support the sports medicine fellowship program," said Ray Vara, president and chief executive officer. "This partnership enables us to support physician training and research in the field of sports medicine. It also helps ensure UH student-athletes receive health care that is both well-coordinated and personalized to each student-athlete's individual needs."