University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee Holds Spring Athletics Board Meeting
April 18, 2009 | General
April 18, 2009
The University of Tennessee Athletics Board met Saturday and was presented an update on the state of the athletics department, including student-athletes' academic and community success, UTAD's budget and several facility projects.
The meeting began with a discussion of UTAD's efficiency committee findings. In January, then UT President Dr. John Petersen asked Mike Hamilton and Joan Cronan to look at ways to create more efficiency within the athletics departments. Over the past three months, the Athletics Efficiency Committee assessed the organization, staffing and operation of the departments and will consolidate four units - compliance, development, event management and sports information, effective July 1, 2009.
The discussion was followed by a report on academic success for the fall semester:
-- 48 student-athletes were named to the SEC Fall Honor Roll - 28 from football, 14 from soccer and six from volleyball;
-- 213 student-athletes were named to the VOLScholar Academic Honor Roll for fall 2008;
-- 29 student-athletes graduated in December 2008;
-- Lady Vol swimmer Christine Magnuson was awarded the female H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for the Southeastern Conference.
Following this discussion was a report on UTAD's budget and fundraising. For fiscal year 2008-09, UTAD has an $87.5 million budget. Despite a challenging economic climate, the Volunteer Athletics and Scholarship Fund (VASF) reported that total giving to Tennessee Athletics has exceeded $29.29 million as of March 30.
Marketing reported they have extended the marketing rights agreement with IMG College through 2022. This extension provided additional funding ($3.5 million) to upgrade the existing video board at Neyland Stadium. The new video board will be installed over the summer and be operational for the 2009 season.
Among the facility projects discussed were:
-- Neyland-Thompson Sports Center Addition - The project has been approved to construct the addition to the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, which will include new coaches' offices, meeting rooms, a new weight room, locker room and training room. The addition of this space will allow those the 110 employees currently located in Stokely Athletics Center to be relocated to the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. Construction will begin summer/fall 2009.
-- Neyland Stadium Master Plan - Phase III of the Neyland Stadium Master Plan began following the 2008 season. Renovations will include the renovation of the west sideline top lower level concourse, removal of the scissor ramps leading to west upper deck, addition of elevators and stairwells on the west side to increase fan accessibility and improve the traffic flow infrastructure of the stadium, improvements to the west tower including sky box and press center updates and construction of the West Club.
-- Thompson-Boling Arena - A pedestrian bridge will be added to the G-10 parking garage this year to connect the garage with Thompson-Boling Arena. Construction also will begin on an elevator in the northwest corner of the arena and an upgrade of the arena's electrical capacity in May 2009.
-- Intercollegiate Golf Complex - The construction of three practice holes and a practice green began in May 2008. Construction is scheduled to be completed spring 2010.
