Delta State Athletics $10M Campaign Booklet

Delta State Athletics

$10

Million Campaign

Facility enhancements remain a priority for Delta State Athletics. We plan to build a multipurpose, turf indoor practice facility to provide a competitive edge for athletes and coaches in all sports but primarily benefiting football, soccer, baseball, and softball.

A multiple-phase renovation of McCool Stadium will enhance our gameday experience for student-athletes and fans. Included would be concourse improvements in ticketing, concession, and restroom areas with accessibility improvements to all levels of seating.

The construction of a multipurpose service building and lighting of our soccer complex at Delta Field will provide both men’s and women’s programs with desperately needed enhanced dressing rooms, offices for coaching staff, storage, and game day facility improvements in concessions and restrooms.

Endowing an Athletics Facilities Maintenance Fund will allow the department to help maintain our facilities without using annual budget funds.

Scholarships lead to fully funding our programs which will enhance our recruiting of quality student-athletes. Increasing our athletic scholarships will allow more talent and depth in our rosters and allow our programs to remain competitive on a national level.

Academic support will lead to one of the most lasting measures of an athletics program: academic success of studentathletes. Enhanced technology in our computer labs, increased tutoring opportunities, academic advisement personnel, and Life Skills programs are elements that will give our student-athletes the best environment to foster success in the classroom and beyond.

Staff supplements will give Athletics the ability to hire and retain quality coaches. Coaches become the primary support system for athletes away from home. Many of our sports are understaffed and need full-time assistant coaches to better provide player development and program success.

New program additions will allow our Athletics department to grow. We need to add sports to be more competitive in our conference, to enhance enrollment, and to create balance within our offerings for women. Optimal sports to add would be women’s volleyball and golf.

Always a Statesman,

Mike Kinnison Director of Athletics

FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Statesman and Lady Statesman Athletics are an effective part of Delta State University’s academic mission. Our programs can unify alumni involvement and support, afford national recognition, promote recruitment, and offer a shared sense of pride among the Delta State family. The University’s athletic program must build for national prominence. Allow me to share a fivepoint action plan needed to assist in reaching that goal.

$15,000 Women’s BKB

SIX

National Championships 1975, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1992

SIXTEEN

GSC Championships Men’s BKB

SEVENTEEN NCAA DII national tournament appearances

SEVEN

GSC Championships Women’s SWD

TWO

National Champions Lucia Martelli - 2021 Celeste Turner - 2021 Men’s SWD

2019

National Champion Runner-Up

FOUR

National Championships Emanuel Fava - 2021 Guilio Brugnoni - 2021 Emanuel Fava - 2020 Justin Whitacker - 2002

Walter Sillers Coliseum Media Room This improvement would provide resources to convert available space into a team media room for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. Technology continues to become more important in preparing our teams for competition. An amphitheater-style meeting room equipped with video capabilities and sound would provide convenience and quality viewing.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES: Walter SIllers Coliseum is a 3,000seat arena that offers fans a panoramic view from two different levels, including more than 1,000 chair-back seats in the mezzanine level.

The Ronald G. Mayers Aquatics Center includes a 60-meter by 25-yard pool with moveable bulkheads, plus a separate diving well. The facility has enough seating capacity to accommodate over 2,500 swimming enthusiasts, while including men’s and women’s dressing rooms, athletic training area, offices for the staff and two large classrooms.

BASKETBALL & SWIMMING & DIVING

Sillers Media Room

$200,000 Golf

2005

GSC Team Champions

FIVE

GSC Golfers of the Year

Cross Country

SIX

First team All-GSC selections

Men’s Tennis

NINE

NCAA South Region Tournament appearances

Women’s Tennis

TWO

ITA All-Americans

Tennis Complex on Campus Construction of an on-campus tennis complex will allow practices and matches on campus and eliminate rental fees for currently used courts. This complex can also provide flexibility in practice times and working with class schedules. Eight courts in a lighted tennis complex would give us the capability to have men’s and women’s teams competing simultaniously.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES: Currently, golf and men’s and women’s tennis compete at the Cleveland Country Club, located just 1.5 miles from campus. The tennis complex includes seven courts, a pro shop and an observation deck. Golf enjoys an 18-hole course consisting of Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways, a pro shop and driving range.

The Delta State Cross Country Complex is located on the north side of campus, adjacent to Statesmen Park. It offers a natural grass running surface, which helps to cut down on injuries, and includes a 400- and 800-yard training trail.

GOLF, CROSS COUNTRY, & TENNIS

Tennis Complex

$50,000

Climate Control

$50,000

Outdoor Hitting Facility

$50,000

University Field LED Lighting

$125,000 TWO

NCAA Regional Appearances

Outdoor Hitting Facility We plan to construct an outdoor lighted hitting facility equipped with multiple cages, pitching areas, and drill areas. The outdoor hitting facility at University Field needs to be upgraded. This area will be utilized primarily during practice and pre-game warm-ups.

University Field Lighting Our vision includes replacing the existing lighting and upgrading to modern LED lighting.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES: The 500-seat facility features one of the top playing surfaces in NCAA Division II, a press box, wireless Internet, restroom and concession facilities, lights and the locker room for DSU’s softball program.

SOFTBALL

Griffis Practice Center Turf Replacement

Griffis Practice Center The indoor practice facility is 10,400 square feet and includes a full-size infield area when the nets of the two batting cages are raised and portable pitching mounds to allow for an expanded practice area. This indoor practice facility will soon need to replace the Field Turf practice surface installed in 2001. We also desire to air condition the practice area. The facility is currently heated but not cooled.

$150,000 Lighting

$250,000

Multipurpose Facility

$400,000 Men

2007

Program-record 9 wins Women

2020

First GSC Tournament win

Practice Field Renovation In our vision, the two practice fields would be laser graded and underground drainage would be installed with new natural turf surface. This would improve field conditions and allow better water management and quicker return to use of the fields during rainy conditions.

Multipurpose building and lighting at Delta Field Both men’s and women’s programs need enhanced dressing rooms, offices for our coaching staffs, storage capabilities, and game day facility improvements in concessions and restrooms. Lighting will provide opportunities for increased attendance with night games and create more flexible practice options for our athletes and coaches.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES: The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen play all their home games at Delta Field, which features a game field, practice field and 7x7 field. All three fields feature natural grass turf.

SOCCER

Soccer Complex Practice Field Renovation

$7,500

Harvey Stadium LED Lighting

$320,000 Home Seating

$20,000 Guest Boxes

$80,000 Griffis Practice Center Turf Replacement

$50,000

Climate Control

$50,000

Outdoor Hitting Facilty

$50,000 2004

National Champions

FIFTEEN

GSC Championships

THIRTY TWO Regional appearances

TWELVE

College World Series appearances

Thigpen Annex/Ferriss Museum Designed as a place where players and families can gather, the J.A. “Bud” Thigpen, Jr. Baseball Annex has been one of the top additions to the Delta State baseball complex since the annex’s completion in 2005.

Harvey Stadium Delta State Baseball enjoys one of the finest collegiate facilities in the Gulf South Conference -- Tim & Nancy Harvey Stadium at Dave “Boo” Ferriss Field. We plan to upgrade home general admission seating and add two guest suites to the upper level of the stadium. Additional seating will allow an increase in fan attendance and improve the game day experience for players, coaches and fans. The addition of guest boxes will allow for revenue increase and sponsorship opportunities. We also plan to upgrade existing lighting to modern LED lighting.

Griffis Practice Center The indoor practice facility is 10,400 square feet and includes a full-size infield area when the nets of the two batting cages are raised and portable pitching mounds to allow for an expanded practice area. This indoor practice facility will soon need to replace the Field Turf practice surface installed in 2001. We also desire to air condition the practice area. The facility is currently heated but not cooled.

Outdoor Hitting Facility We desire to construct an outdoor lighted hitting facility equipped with multiple cages, pitching mounds, and drill areas. The outdoor hitting facility at Ferriss Field needs to be upgraded. This area will be utilized primarily during practice and pre-game warm-ups.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES: Ferriss Field has transformed into one of collegiate baseball’s finest ballparks. Replacing the former covered grandstand is a new elevated seating area with 500 chair-back seats. The new stadium features improved handicap access and seating, and the upper level features a new press box and plans to add two new guest suites. A brick wall surrounds the outside of the new stadium seating area. The old dugouts have been replaced by ground level dugouts that feature restrooms and storage areas.

BASEBALL

Thigpen Annex / Ferriss Museum

$3,000,000 Chadwick Dickson Dressing Rooms

$200,000 2000

National Champions

SEVEN

GSC Championships

NINE

NCAA DII playoff appearances

Renovation of McCool Stadium A multiple-phase renovation to McCool Stadium is important to enhance our gameday experience for student-athletes and fans. Included would be concourse improvements in ticketing, concession, and restroom areas with accessibility improvements to all levels of seating. Additionally, we desire to incorporate improvement and redesign of stadium seating and press box renovations.

Renovation Chadwick Dickson dressing room We need to enlarge our visitor dressing room to adequately accommodate large visiting teams and provide training room access.

This expansion would offer additional space for our team during the offseason. Also included would be upgrades to our current DSU football locker room.

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES:

At the top of the 8,125-seat concrete stadium is a two-level press box that overlooks historic Parker Field. The press box was renovated in May 2013 and includes booths for radio, film, coaches, and working press, as well as a snack kitchen and restroom. The press box is completely enclosed, with the exception of the second-level film deck, and is climate controlled for year-round comfort and convenience.

FOOTBALL

McCool Stadium Renovation

tatesmen and Lady Statesmen Athletics are an effective part of Delta State University’s academic mission. Our programs can unify alumni involvement and support, afford national recognition, promote recruitment, and offer a shared sense of pride among the Delta State family. The University’s athletic program must build for national prominence.

Indoor Practice Facility

$3,000,000 Program Additions

$365,000 Coaching Supplements

$400,000 Scholarships

$500,000 Academic Support

$45,000

Nutrition Station for Athletes

$20,000

Multipurpose indoor practice facility Building a multipurpose turf indoor practice facility will provide a competitive edge for athletes and coaches in all sports. Of primary benefit would be football, soccer, baseball, and softball. This component of our campaign has the potential to benefit a large number of athletes in a large number of sports by providing practice continuity in inclement weather, additional strength and conditioning components, dressing rooms and meeting room space.

Endow an Athletics Facilities Maintenance Fund The annual cost to the Delta State Athletics Department for maintenance and upkeep of these new and existing facilities is high. A maintenance endowment fund will allow the department to help maintain our facilities without using annual budget funds. Creating perpetual income will allow long-term sustainment of our investments.

New Program Additions Our Athletic Department is at a point of needed growth. We need to add sports to be more competitive in our conference, to enhance enrollment, and to create balance within our offerings for women. Optimal sports to add would be women’s volleyball and golf. These would require reoccurring funds to sustain the programs and provide the best chance for success.

Staff Supplements to Hire and Retain Quality Coaching Staffs Coaching staffs become the primary support system for athletes away from home. Recruits want to know there will be continuity within a coaching staff for their entire playing career. The competitive nature of college athletics requires multiyear commitments to ensure success. Many of our sports are understaffed and need full time assistant coaches to better provide player development and program success.

Scholarships Fully funding our programs will enhance our recruiting of quality studentathletes. Increasing our athletic scholarships will allow more talent and depth in our rosters and allow our programs to remain competitive on a national level.

Academic Support One of the most lasting measures of an athletics program is the academic success of its student-athletes. Decades after games are over, a university will be evaluated by how well it prepared its players for life. Enhanced technology in our computer labs, increased tutoring opportunities, academic advisement personnel, and life skills programs are elements that will give our studentathletes the best environment to foster success in the classroom and beyond.

Nutrition Station for Athletes A nutrition station will provide student-athletes nutritious and healthy eating options to consume pre- and post-practice and pre- and post-game. Studentathletes experience demanding schedules, and a nutrition station will ensure they are fueling their bodies with healthy options that will sustain them throughout the day. Consuming healthy foods and drinks will translate to success in the classroom, weight room and competition field.

OVERALL NEEDS

S

THREE WAYS TO GIVE Give online at: www.deltastategiving.org Call us at: 662.846.4704 Mail a check to: DSU Box 3141 1003 West Sunflower Road Cleveland, MS 38733 In addition to writing a check, there are many different opportunities to give.

You could include DSU Athletics in your estate plans including bequests, gift of real estate, Life Income Gifts, Life Insurance Gifts, Naming Opportunities, and Retirement Plan Assets.

If you are 70 1/2 years old or older, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit DSU and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to a qualified charity, such as Delta State University, without having to pay income taxes on the money.

1003 West Sunflower Road | DSU Box 3141 | Cleveland, MS 38733 | www.deltastategiving.org