University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: October 4, 2007

By ARTHUR PAGE
Assistant Vice President

While acknowledging that UB has increased support for its intercollegiate athletics program to a level comparable to other schools competing in the Mid-American Conference, a committee following up on the recommendations of a report by consultant Gene Corrigan released two years ago has identified additional financial support as key to the program's future success.

"We are convinced that the ultimate key to success for the program is additional financial support—indeed many of the recommendations set forth in the Corrigan report are about financial issues," according to the 13-member Corrigan committee's report to President John B. Simpson.

"While some of these issues are being addressed and resolved, several important ones remain. The ultimate, consistent, competitive success in Division I athletics that the university administration seeks depends upon resolution of these financial issues."

The committee identifies an indoor practice facility as the program's "single greatest need."

The committee report concludes with "an optimistic belief in the positive future of Division I-A intercollegiate athletics at UB." It praises the leadership of Warde J. Manuel, hired in August 2005 as UB's director of athletics, as well as UB's senior administrative leadership.

"Athletic resource and facility planning," it adds, "are now a central part of the university's UB 2020 strategic planning process, with the athletic director sitting at the same table as university deans and vice presidents."

The committee, chaired by Nils Olsen, dean of the UB Law School, and co-chaired by John N. Walsh III, vice chair of the UB Foundation and chairman and CEO of Walsh Duffield Companies, met over a period of seven months. In addition to receiving comprehensive presentations from the Division of Athletics, it met with every head coach, conducted meetings with student athletes, met with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst and held two public forums to gather input. The committee also reached out to community members and athletic organizations through direct mail, email and telephone calls.

With Simpson's firm commitment to building a winning program in the MAC and to Division I-A football and the hiring of Manuel as a member of the university's senior administrative staff, the committee report says concerns of commitment and leadership raised in the Corrigan report have been addressed.

"We currently have the right leadership and administrative support at UB to develop a consistently competitive intercollegiate athletics program, and we can deal with, and are dealing with, the issues that are internal to the university," the report states.

The key to securing adequate financial support for the program, it adds, "must be the result of an active and equal partnership" between the university, the public and New York State."

It adds: "While the university support of its intercollegiate athletics program is consistent and effective, it is crucially important for the Western New York and UB alumni community and New York State to play important roles in this process."

It notes that "the UB Division of Athletics can play a key role in building and preserving the strength, vitality and excitement of the Western New York region. A successful and competitive intercollegiate athletic program is a catalyst for economic development, a source of quality entertainment and recreation and is a beacon for hometown spirit and pride."

UB, the report points out, "already has dedicated, substantial, financial support at a reasonably comparative level with other MAC schools." The public's participation, it adds, extends to "regular attendance at major sporting venues, including football, and generous annual and major gift support." New York State, it says, needs to provide "viable finance options and support for the critically needed upgrade in facilities," including an indoor practice and competition facility.

"Feedback the committee received from all of the coaches, student-athletes and administrators that appeared before it was consistent," the report notes. "The single greatest need of the intercollegiate athletics program at UB is an indoor practice facility."

The report adds: "The majority of MAC schools that UB competes with have an indoor facility. Each provides a significant recruiting asset."

Progress that has occurred since Manuel's hiring highlighted in the committee report includes investments in coaching salaries and the recruiting budget for the entire intercollegiate athletics program. It also praises the expansion of weight-training facilities accomplished as the result of "significantly enhanced donor support, a reallocation of Division of Athletics resources and modest increases in one-time university funding. This diversified funding base sets a model for future improvements."

Gene Corrigan's report said UB needed to consider a reduction in the number of intercollegiate sports, "focusing on sports with the best opportunities for success," while at the same time considering addition of sports with "potential for success."

The committee's report said it concluded that "both adding and possibly reducing the number of intercollegiate sports must be considered in tandem." The committee report also recommends Manuel "explore the cost savings and competitive advantage or disadvantage of combining men's and women's sports where feasible." It notes that other MAC and Division I schools have done that and that UB already has done so for its men's and women's swimming teams.

Among the several sports that have been suggested for addition to UB's intercollegiate roster, only men's volleyball is singled out for consideration by the Corrigan committee. The report notes that there are numerous "compelling reasons" for adding men's volleyball. The only apparent reason not to support the addition, it adds, is that "there would be an additional call on the funding that is available to the Division (of Athletics) to support its entire program."

In addition to Olsen and Walsh, members of the committee are Laura J. Barnum, currently the senior assistant vice president for resource planning and information, and formerly associate athletics director for internal operations and senior woman administrator; Charles R. Fourtner, professor of biological sciences and faculty athletics representative; Marsha S. Henderson, vice president for external affairs; Christina R. Hernandez, assistant athletics director for business operations; Wesley Hicks, professor of otolaryngology and neurosurgery; Creighton H. Randall, undergraduate Student Association corporate relations director; Marilyn E. Morris, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral education in the Graduate School; Peter A. Nickerson, director of the Pathology Graduate Program in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and former chair of the Faculty Senate; Barbara J. Ricotta, dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs; Barbara J. Rooney, associate director in the Office of Admissions; and Sean P. Sullivan, associate vice president for academic planning and budget.