Wayne State College

 
 MISSION:
The Wayne State College Athletics and Recreation department is committed to empowering student-athletes to achieve Academic Excellence and Competitive Success while honoring our Proud Tradition, fostering Health & Wellness, and driving a positive Community Impact.

VISION:
WSC Athletics aspires to be a top-tier NCAA Division II department defined by strength, innovation, and excellence. We are unwavering in our efforts to provide dedicated service to our community of student-athletes, alumni, stakeholders, and fans.

The PILLARS of Wildcat Athletics & Recreation:

• Academic EXCELLENCE -- We aim to maximize the potential of our student-athletes to the highest of their academic abilities, providing the resources and support necessary to ensure they lead in the classroom and graduate prepared for professional success.
• Student HEALTH & WELLNESS -- We are committed to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our students, providing a supportive environment where they can thrive having a healthy and positive student life experience.
• Competitive SUCCESS -- We strive for greatness in every arena of play. We cultivate a culture of discipline, grit, and sportsmanship, aiming to win championships while representing Wayne State with integrity.
• Proud TRADITION -- We honor those who wore the Paw before us. By embracing our rich history, we build a lasting legacy that connects past, present, and future generations of the Wildcat Athletic family.
• Community IMPACT -- We take pride in being active citizens who positively influence the Greater Wayne community by engaging with, giving back to, and inspiring the next generation of Wildcats through service and leadership.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
Objective #1: Revenue Generation

Key Performance Indicators: Increase sustainable growth in external revenue streams through strategic fundraising for scholarships and facilities, enhanced ticket sales, camp operations, and new commercial opportunities
Key Initiatives & Action Items:

• Collaborate with the Office of the President and the Wayne State Foundation to build, communicate, and implement a comprehensive athletics development plan.
• Increase annual scholarship fundraising to sustain our current funding model and expand support toward NCAA equivalency goals across all sports.
• Complete fundraising for the Rice Arena Lobby renovation and coaches’ office relocation project (ARC Phase III).
• Secure philanthropic support for the phased Baseball, Softball, and Beach Volleyball facility enhancements, including artificial turf installations, an indoor hitting and pitching facility, and a beach volleyball practice court.
• Achieve consistent annual growth in net revenue generated through athletic camps and clinics.
• Expand single-game ticket sales and game-day revenue through targeted annual growth initiatives.
• Establish an official Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) fund to support student-athlete opportunities.
• Align with the Facility Master Plan and Presidential fundraising priorities to identify, endorse, and approve long-term facility and operational fundraising initiatives in partnership with the Wayne State Foundation Board.

 
Objective #2: Internal Support, Infrastructure, & Department Operations

Key Performance Indicators: Continue to foster a collaborative department culture and operational excellence through strategic staffing investments, balanced resource allocation, and expanded programmatic infrastructure to enrich the student-athlete experience.
Key Initiatives & Action Items:

• Develop and administer a department culture survey, sharing results transparently to guide internal improvements.
• Create a comprehensive administrative and coaching staffing plan to support strategic priorities and long-term department growth.
• Maintain ongoing Title IX compliance through annual reviews of the department’s scholarship model, regular assessments of student interest and abilities, and planning for future varsity program additions.
• Evaluate the financial feasibility of adding new NCAA varsity sports and develop an implementation strategy as opportunities arise.
• Strengthen operational infrastructure through staffing and budget enhancements to support the growth of club sports programming.

 
Objective #3: Community Engagement, Marketing, Branding
Key Performance Indicators: Enhance the Wildcat brand and strengthen community ties through expanded alumni and donor programming, deepened donor stewardship, elevated digital storytelling and broadcast visibility, and dedicated student-athlete civic engagement initiatives
Key Initiatives & Action Items:

• Produce refreshed digital and print promotional materials for the athletic department and individual sport programs, including program-specific highlight content.
• Develop and execute a multi-year investment and infrastructure plan to upgrade athletic broadcast streaming production, technology, and staffing.
• Partner with the Wayne State Foundation to establish an annual calendar of alumni and donor engagement events.
• Ensure every varsity athletic program hosts regular alumni engagement events and functions.
• Implement an annual tracking system to document and celebrate community service initiatives completed by athletic teams and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
• Launch a comprehensive fan engagement program—featuring student rewards, youth programming (such as the Junior Cats program), and game-day attendance initiatives—to drive sustained annual growth in season, single-game, and group ticket sales.
• Expand the Wildcat Athletics brand and promote department successes across new and emerging regional markets.
• Activate the core pillars of Wildcat Athletics & Recreation and launch a dedicated webpage to showcase the department's strategic plan.

Objective #4: Academics, Student-Athlete Support, Professional Development
Key Performance Indicators: Build a department that focuses on holistic student-athlete development by fostering an environment of academic excellence, personal growth, and professional readiness.

Key Initiatives & Action Items:

• Administer an annual student-athlete experience survey to gather feedback, communicate findings, and implement targeted improvements.
• Enhance the student-athlete experience through dedicated milestone initiatives and community-building traditions (such as senior paw gifts, graduation stoles, training tables, and SAAC socials), supported by strategic budget planning.
• Maintain high standards for team and individual cumulative GPAs while fostering strong student-athlete retention rates across all programs.
• Build, implement, and annually assess cohort-based professional readiness and career development programming tailored to student-athletes at every stage of their collegiate journey.
• Strengthen academic preparedness and support systems by maximizing campus resources and institutional partnerships.
• Cultivate a strong academic culture within Athletics by recruiting academically prepared student-athletes, maintaining structured learning environments (including study tables and proactive faculty communication), partnering closely with the Student Academic Success Center, and celebrating academic achievements publicly.
• Provide dedicated leadership and mentorship for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) through regular collaboration with department leadership to ensure student-athletes have an active voice in governance.

Objective #5: Competitive Success
Key Performance Indicators: Establish expectations for excellence and achieve sustained success in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and NCAA Division II by recruiting and retaining premier talent, investing in athletic performance development, and maintaining championship-caliber facilities
 
Key Initiatives & Action Items:

• Recruit and retain premier student-athletes, coaches, and staff by delivering a distinct, high-caliber collegiate athletic experience.
• Develop strategic roadmaps for athletic programs to achieve and sustain national competitive excellence.
• National Relevance: Position all varsity programs to consistently compete for regional rankings and regular postseason NCAA tournament appearances.
• NSIC Relevance: Position all varsity programs to consistently contend at the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) standings and qualify for conference postseason play.
• Maintain and upgrade athletic facilities in alignment with the WSC Facility Master Plan—providing safe, premier environments for varsity athletics, club sports, and intramural programs—while continuously assessing future facility needs.
• Invest in student-athlete physical development and injury prevention by expanding certified strength and conditioning staffing to support team training and performance.