NEW HAVEN (March 19, 2020) –Collegiate Consulting has presented the findings of its Feasibility Study to the University of New Haven Board of Trustees. The presentation was the final step of the Collegiate Consulting process, which included the submission of the 175-page feasibility report to the University at the end of January.
UNH retained Collegiate Consulting in October to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for Division I transition as well as provide analysis and recommendations with regard to Division II and its Northeast-10 Conference membership. The study provides a detailed Division I overview and compares UNH to multiple Division I conferences within UNH’s geographic footprint. Key elements presented included:
· NCAA Division I guidelines
· Institutional comparison
· Sports participation
· Sports operating budget
· Revenue line-item analysis
· Expense line-item analysis
· Academic performance
· Administrative staffing
· Administrative salaries
· Coaching staffing
· Coaching salaries
· Facility Comparison
· Division I – Expense Pro Forma
· Division I – Revenue Pro Forma
UNH compared itself to the Northeast Conference and Atlantic Sun Conference. The institution’s athletic budget would increase by approximately $4.5 million, which was benchmarked to the average of each respective conference. This number includes the addition of a new women’s team sport. An assessment of athletic facilities indicated that UNH’s outdoor facilities meet Division I benchmarking. The University will shortly begin work on the Charger Athletic Center, which would upgrade the arena and provide much needed office and locker room space for the program.
UNH’s athletic program has enjoyed a rich history of athletic success with women’s basketball earning the 1987 national championship; and men’s soccer and football finishing as the national runner-up in 1976 (soccer) and 1997 (FB). UNH’s baseball, volleyball and track & field programs are some of the most decorated programs in Division II. Overall, UNH has 17 varsity programs and has been a member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2008.
The feasibility study marks the eighth divisional feasibility study conducted by Collegiate Consulting in the past 10 months and the 30th report completed since the company’s formation.