A VISION FOR SEWANEE ATHLETICS

Helping the Sewanee athletics program realize its potential and secure its future

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A VISION FOR SEWANEE ATHLETICS

Success on the field, the courts, and the track is often viewed through the lens of wins and losses, but the collective force of Sewanee’s 24 varsity athletic teams has the power to do so much more. Our teams can be increasingly competitive within the SAA, as well as in regional and national NCAA competitions. We have the ability to partner with our admissions staff to recruit hundreds of prospective students, meeting the University’s goal of attracting the best and brightest students available. Competition for qualified students is fierce, and only those institutions with a clear vision for the future, the ability to implement innovative solutions, and a steadfast commitment to their values will emerge stronger than before.

It is with this frame that Sewanee approaches its strategic planning process—focusing on four main priorities:

student success;
diversity, equity, and inclusion;
curricular renewal and renovation; and
economic development and Domain optimization.

Our vision for athletics stretches across all four priorities. Intercollegiate sports teach students to be more successful through the process of training and competition. Our recruiting processes bring students from every walk of life to the Domain to learn together. Our facilities, our events, and the size of our student-athlete group has the potential to impact the economic life of the University on a daily basis. This strategic vision and the initiatives it produces will allow Sewanee to continue to provide our students with a premier liberal arts education and athletic experience that prepares them to serve their communities and the world.

CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

The quality of all of our athletics facilities directly impacts our ability to recruit and train student-athletes and enhances our level of competitive success. The 2022 Fowler Center renewal project will allow Sewanee to tailor our existing athletics facilities to better meet the needs of our student-athletes. Sewanee’s top priorities for renovations to enhance our facilities and equipment are described below, and costs associated with this project are detailed on page 6 of this plan.

Each step of this multi-phase renovation plan will bring the Fowler Center closer to Sewanee Athletics’ goal of creating a first-class athletics center of unmatched quality that includes the most efficient use of available space, increased flexibility for the success of our student-athletes, and necessary upgrades for our coaches and other staff members to succeed in their work. The total cost for the proposed renovations to the Fowler Center is estimated to be $1,500,000.

Replacement of the track and flooring in Fowler’s multi-use indoor facility will allow Sewanee to offer a top-quality fieldhouse for our student-athletes. The addition of a floor conducive to varsity volleyball and basketball practices will provide greater flexibility for these teams’ daily practice schedules, impacting the academic success of students on each roster.

Expansion of Fowler’s weight room and athletic training rooms is key to equitably meeting the needs of each of our 24 varsity athletic teams. The renovation project will increase the square footage of the athletic training room and add an additional locker room once our new weight room space is converted. Serving the medical and rehabilitation needs of more than 550 Sewanee student-athletes requires a larger, more centralized space with modern equipment and increased staffing. The addition of varsity teams over the years requires us to think critically about our current space to ensure that we are using every square foot to enhance our locker rooms, weight room, and training facilities.

Coaching is at the core of NCAA Division III athletics, and Sewanee student- athletes have benefited from the addition of specialized coaches and assistants who are improving our recruiting and training capabilities. The Fowler renovation incorporates additional offices and visitor space, which are both critical needs, allowing athletic department staff to meet with prospective students and families on site in a quality setting.

Finally, the proposed renovation plan will convert Fowler’s classroom space into a state-of-the-art film room. The enhancements to this space plan for tiered seating, new flooring, and updated branding elements. This space will provide an enhanced experience for film sessions and team meetings, which will be instrumental in building both team chemistry and staff morale.

THE SEWANEE TIGERS BRAND

Telling the story of Sewanee athletics by creating a lasting impact through visual identity is a powerful motivator for both our current and our prospective student-athletes. Whether stepping into the Fowler Center for a first look or sitting with teammates in a mid-season film session, student-athletes have a strong desire to connect as a part of something larger than themselves. That theme of success will carry itself through the walls of the weight room, the deep purple tone of the track, and logos that shout the pride a Sewanee student-athlete feels every day on the Mountain. An important component of the Fowler Center remodel project is coordinating with design professionals to customize every aspect of Fowler into a blended theme that emphasizes our championship culture.

The marketing and branding phase of the project will shape walls, floors, seating, columns, and interactive screens into a consistent message of lasting school spirit. The Sewanee Hall of Fame will be recast through the modern technology of interactive screens showcasing All-Americans from years past while calling to the next generation to follow in those beloved footsteps. This will be a powerful recruitment tool for prospective students and their families and a way to evoke great pride for our alumni.

SEWANEE AS COMMUNITY

Nothing is more sacred on the Sewanee campus than our continued sense of community spirit, and there are few places that bring together students, faculty, staff, and the Sewanee community as the Fowler Center does. Since its opening, the Fowler Center has been a home beyond the classroom for those seeking exercise, intramural competition, or a night as a fan of Tiger athletics.

The renovation plan will focus on acquiring new cardio and resistance equipment, and it will ensure we are using all the available space in the Fowler Center to reflect the growth of the University and the current needs of our community.

The Fowler Center is a valuable amenity for all prospective students considering what Sewanee life will look like as they make their college choice. All of Sewanee’s athletes are in need of more food options on campus, and this plan will feature a new place to grab a post-practice smoothie or a pre-class sandwich. Healthy, on-the-go snack options are an increasingly important requirement for students with a busy lifestyle. This new service will provide the flexibility our student athletes require to ensure their health needs.