Strategy to add College Wrestling Programs

[Former158]

What does it take to add a college wrestling program?

There is often talk here about premier expansion D-1 opportunities in power 4 conferences and other high revenue athletic departments. However, the future of the sport is not D-1, especially with NIL and the need for inflated football and basketball budgets. Without a major donor (10mil+), adding a competitive D-1 program with adequate scholarship, coaching and club level support, does not seem possible. While we need to strengthen existing D-1 programs with donations/camps, and other revenue, expansion is somewhere else

If wrestling is going to expand at the college level it needs to be at the DIII level and help with struggling enrollment. In the past 15 years, enrollment has declines more than 8% across the U.S. and many colleges are struggling to attract students. With empty dorm rooms and empty seats in classes, the costs of adding an extra student to campus right now is minimal so schools are willing to invest in new programs to recruit.

Targeting smaller, tuition dependent, schools is a way to grow the sport. For instance if you could convince a small private institution that a new men’s and women’s program (yes combined is the way to go), could attract 10-15 more students to the school per year, even with a 50% need based scholarship as an average, many institutions would jump on this. Not all of these students would need to be wrestlers, but fans and friends of the student athletes----more students= more word of mouth/marketing.

For instance, the revenue generated from a school which cost 50,000 per year in tuition room and board would far outweigh the costs of the team.

15 students per year @50% tuition, room and board x4 years (60 students total)---at many private schools, the average student pays less than 50% so this is not out of the norm.

·       60 students total x 25,000=                                       1,500,000 (tuition, room and board)

·       Coaches x3=                                                               -300,000 (salary & benefits)         

·       Operating Budget                                                       -300,000 (capital, travel, etc)

·       Marginal costs for 60 more students on-campus    -150,000 (classes, faculty, food, etc)

·       School revenue                                                                      +750,000 (For the bottom line)

Even with 250,000-500,000 in initial start up costs for a Wrestling room and mats, 750,000 a year in proven revenue after 4 years is worth the investment.

So lets make business plans and target these tuition dependent schools with declining enrollment. If alumni and/or wrestling supporters can raise even 50,000-100,000 in start up costs, with a good plan, many universities are ready to listen and desperate for new ideas.

The time to strike is now as school rarely add sports when they are flush with cash and students----why would they if the business model is behind it all?