KU AD Travis Goff email 2023-06-02

Thought you might be interested.
I added the links for access to background on the linked topics. - HE
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FULL TEXT OF EMAIL

Today at 12:01 PM

Dear Jayhawk Supporters,

With the 2022-23 academic and competitive season wrapping up, I am pleased to update you regarding several topics. We truly face an important moment for Kansas Athletics that will determine the future of our athletic programs in many ways. Our disciplined approach in this new era of intercollegiate athletics, diligence in recruiting the best coaches and student-athletes, and commitment to our Strategic Plan has the stars aligning in multiple trajectory-altering realms: record-breaking University enrollment; unprecedented success both on and off the field of play; profound investment in facilities and the fan experience; a strong foundation of success in the realm of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL); the continual pursuit of providing our student-athletes with a world-class experience, among many others.

A renewed commitment to excellence calls for a heightened need for investment. And that is where you, our loyal supporters, come into play: it is more important than ever that we have your enhanced support, along with the understanding that “support” does not mean what it once did in college athletics. Many of you buy season tickets, donate to the Williams Fund, or both; and we appreciate your loyalty in those areas. However, the new world of college athletics and this challenge in front of us means we need you to get even more involved and help propel this department forward.

We ask that you strongly consider getting involved in NIL, including through Mass Strategies. It is paramount that we build a sustainable NIL model and empower our student-athletes to be successful in this space. While we have made substantial progress, we are still significantly behind the competition in season ticket sales for Kansas Football. Get on board now and support a program that all Jayhawks will be proud of! We recently launched the new Ad Astra Society, providing a tangible, philanthropic way to move our program forward. Reach out to your account representative or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today to join us!

Please see below for a variety of updates that demonstrate the opportunity we have to build upon our momentum:

Gateway Project Update

-- We are working to unveil the full vision for the project in the second half of 2023. The Gateway Project will show the strong alignment between Kansas Athletics and our incredible University partners as we build a project that will leave an indelible mark for years and decades to come.

-- We are progressing in schematic design and have recently hired a construction manager who is refining the phased approach, timeline and cost projections.

-- Our talented project team is engaging the Lawrence and University communities to gain valuable feedback as we solidify our plans.

-- I am working daily with our development team and campus leaders to create a viable financial plan and raise the needed funds from our generous supporters. As we’ve said from the start, philanthropic support will be the catalyst to fulfilling this transformative project.

-- Work has already begun at Anderson Family Football Complex. Crews began in mid-April and we’ve already seen great progress in both the locker room and weight room. We’re excited to unveil both of those new spaces to our football team when they report in July.

-- We recently partnered with Legends, a leader in the sales, sponsorship and hospitality space to help us maximize fan engagement and sales opportunities surrounding the Gateway Project. More information on how you can be involved with the project and seating opportunities are forthcoming!

Allen Fieldhouse Upgrades

-- And in other exciting news, Allen Fieldhouse is officially under construction! As we explained when we announced, this will be a two-phased approach over the current offseason and following the 2023-24 season. When it’s completed, the greatest venue in college basketball will be amongst the most accommodating and fan friendly.

-- Work began on the men’s basketball staff suite immediately after the season and will be completed in early fall.

-- Great strides have been made inside the walls of Allen Fieldhouse, with a focus on the east side entrance and premium donor spaces. You will see a new team store this season that will serve as a major enhancement for all of our fans for both men’s and women’s basketball.

-- There will also be a new “Jayhawk Pub” concept that will offer one of the most unique hospitality spaces in sport.

-- A transformational lead gift from a remarkable Jayhawk family has made this project possible and we are inspired by their generosity and vision.

Academic Success

-- This has been an incredible year in the classroom for our student-athletes, and I am so proud of their work.

-- During the fall semester, we set a new non-COVID era GPA and saw every single program attain a 3.0 GPA or better, while 3 programs set new program records, including football.

-- This spring, our student-athletes excelled again, setting a non-COVID era record again with a 3.40 GPA. ELEVEN programs set new team GPA records and all sports again posted above a 3.0.

-- We have also had five student-athletes this year earn Academic All-America honors, which is our most in more than 15 years.

-- This is all to remind you that student-athletes are still very much students first. Incredible accomplishments are happening, not just in competition, but in the classroom as well.

Athletic Accomplishments

-- As we wind down the year, it has been a highlight-filled season for our various teams and I am so proud of our various accomplishments and victories.

-- We had several teams reach the postseason, including football, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, tennis, women’s golf and men’s golf. Track is our only team still competing and just sent 28 student-athletes to Pre-Nationals and will now head to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas next month.

-- This spring, our women’s golf team earned its second-ever at-large bid to NCAA Regionals and had a strong showing at the NCAA Athens Regional. Our men’s golf team qualified for Regionals for the seventh consecutive time and true freshman Will King, a pre-med major, advanced to the NCAA Championship as an individual and represented KU incredibly well.

-- It started in the fall with an inspiring season from our football program – a season that included three home sellouts, a 5-0 start and hosting College Gameday for the first time in football history.

-- That program has had a strong offseason in terms of player and coach retention, recruiting and offseason strength development. Now we find ourselves just three months away from the season, which features an incredible home schedule:

Aug. 31: Missouri State
Sept. 8 or 9: Illinois
Sept. 23: BYU
Oct. 7: UCF
Oct. 28: Oklahoma
Nov. 11: Texas Tech
Nov. 18: Dillons Sunflower Showdown versus Kansas State

-- The home football schedule will lead right into an exciting season at Allen Fieldhouse for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. Our men are coming off winning the best conference in the country with two games to play and our women are of course coming off a WNIT championship.

-- There is so much momentum building; it’s incredibly exciting to think about.

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)

-- Our department was recently nominated as one of eight finalists for “Best Institutional Program” at the second-annual NIL Awards, scheduled for June 3 at the College Football Hall of Fame

-- Quarterback Jalon Daniels is also one of six finalists for Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the only football player in the nation to be included.

-- One of the reasons we were nominated for the best institutional program is because of the commitment we showed by hiring two full-time NIL directors to ensure our student-athletes are well-educated and resourced in this vastly changing landscape.

-- It has also been amazing to see so many student-athletes impact community outreach efforts through NIL including the American Cancer Society, the Lawrence Humane Society, the Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters to name a few.

-- Also, this fall, the university will be offering three new NIL academic courses in the Sports Management program that will impact all students on campus.

Our Future: To the Stars

As I complete my second full season as your Director of Athletics, I am fueled by the vast potential of the University of Kansas. Our history is proud, our foundation is strong, our tradition unrivaled, our present inspiring… But our future has a chance to surpass even the greatest ambition. We will need ALL Jayhawks to join us in order to realize our potential.

We look forward to seeing you at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena, Rock Chalk Park, David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, and on Mount Oread this fall. Thank you for your support and we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer!

Rock Chalk!

Travis

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