2015-2016 sports to be added - football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and archery.
2016-2017 sports to be added - wrestling, golf.
2017-2018 sports to be added - soccer, baseball, softball, bowling.
http://woub.org/2015/05/03/athletics-co ... ng-college
Athletics Coming to Hocking College
By Sarah Hawley - Athens Messenger staff reporter
Sun, May 3, 2015 12:08 pm
When you hear those things, it is not common to think of Hocking College, but after Thursday’s unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees that may no longer be the case.
The Board approved a two-year pilot program to add athletics to the college beginning in the fall of 2015. The Hocking College Hawks will compete in archery, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, football and volleyball during the two-year program.
President Betty Young explained that the college has seen an “overwhelming response†from students and prospective students who are interested in participating in athletics at Hocking College. These are students that otherwise would not have come to Hocking College, according to Young.
For Hocking College Police Chief Al Matthew — who will also serve as the college’s athletic director and head football coach — the approval comes three years after he initially presented the idea to then-president Ron Erickson. Matthews said he spoke with Young about the idea and that led to where things are now.
“She wanted to know what ideas I had to bring students in,†said Matthews. “I let her know that since we are the only two year school in Ohio with residence halls that athletics seemed to be the perfect combination.â€
Matthews said that currently there are 206 students interested in football, with 60 being true freshmen for the fall. Hoping to have a team of 120, Matthews will be trying out around 146 students this weekend.
“Being Ohio’s first junior college with football, first ever, would be a big selling point. That kind of reflects in the numbers,†Matthews added.
“It’s inspiring to see the excitement and interested,†stated Young.
Some of the trustees expressed concerns with bringing athletics to the college and the potential financial fallout, along with behavioral concerns.
Trustee Keith Taulbee noted the trouble and bad press that can come if athletes or coaches get into trouble. Young stated there are staff who work on a behavioral risk assessment and this could be utilized to help stop potential concerns.
Stating that he did not “like living in a bunker,†trustee Mike Budzik added that there was “nothing wrong with giving it a try.â€
A budget proposal presented by Young laid out the proposed start up costs for archery, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, football and volleyball, along with an operating budget for the first two years. The proposal also shows the potential to add wrestling and golf in the second year, along with the addition of baseball, softball, bowling and soccer possible in the third year.
Trustee Mike Budzik asked Young why those specific sports were selected for the pilot program. Young commented that these programs are of particular interest to the students at Hocking College, particularly archery which aligns with the programs Hocking College offers. Hocking College will also become the first junior college in Ohio to offer football.
First year expenses are budgeted at $260,200, while projected revenues are $1.1 million for the first year. This revenue includes tuition, fees and room and board for 100 student athletes, along with admission and concession receipts. The revenue is expected to increase in the second year as student-athletes return for a second year and new student-athletes enroll.
The total first year budget of $260,200 includes 20 percent of new student-athlete revenue, with the second year to include 10 percent of student-athlete enrollment revenue.
Among the costs for the first year are an athletic trainer which will be contracted through OhioHealth at a cost of $30,000 per year. Other costs to be incurred are referees ($10,000), training for coaches ($7,000), travel ($10,000) and NJCAA membership ($1,800). There is a contingency built into the budget for each year for unforeseen expenses.
One cost notably absent in the first year is coaching costs. For the first year all coaches will be considered volunteer and will not be paid for their work. In the proposal for the second year, the head coach would receive $3,500 per sport, with the assistant coach receiving $2,500 per sport. Coaches are in place for the upcoming year, with the exception of volleyball.
Trustee Gary Edwards noted that the athletic programs can serve as a powerful recruiting tool to bring students to the college. The college needs money/revenue and the best way to get it is to add students, Edwards noted.
The athletics proposal presented by Young detailed goals for the program, a proposed mission for intercollegiate athletics at Hocking College,
Program goals include, attracting degree seeking high school graduates who will contribute positively to the overall enrollment goals and financial stability of the college while improving retention, completion and student life; promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities; developing the whole student in academics and for life; lifting the spirits of the college community around the Hocking Hawks; and improving community outreach throughout Southeastern Ohio.
According to the proposal, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading will take place in the student center with football games to be played at Nelsonville-York’s Boston Field.