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SDSU Receives NCAA Women's Basketball Grant For Second Year In A Row
Aztecs are one of three to earn funding two straight years
June 16, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - Complete Release in PDF Format
San Diego State University was one of 18 institutions or conferences that were selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to receive a women's basketball grant as part of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Grant Program, which is in its second year. The 2009-10 NCAA grant program dedicated approximately $750,000 nationally to increase awareness, exposure and attendance of women's basketball. San Diego State doubled the grant money it received from the first year of the program and is one of only three schools or conferences to receive a grant for the second straight season. San Diego State is planning to use the grant for many exciting activities and initiatives, including continuing its Ticket to Thrive program, which connects with K-8 students and teachers, business leaders, community partners and the SDSU campus community to provide mentoring, networking opportunities and increased attendance and support of Aztec Women's Basketball. "San Diego State is honored to be one of just three selected to receive this NCAA grant for the second year in a row," said SDSU Director of Athletics Jeff Schemmel. "It speaks not only to our grant proposal, but to the success of our women's basketball program, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago and is well on its way to being among the nation's elite." In the first year of its Ticket to Thrive program in 2008-09, SDSU used an ambassador-type concept to engage local school teachers to use their daily contact with youth to encourage them to attend Aztec basketball games. As a result, one of the events, Girls and Women In Sports Day, attracted nearly 2,800 fans to Cox Arena. The second year of the Ticket to Thrive program will focus on the cultivation of professionals, specifically women, in the San Diego area. A total of 75 member schools and conferences submitted proposals in the second year of the pilot program. National office staff and representatives from the NCAA women's basketball marketing consultant firm, Hawkeye Sports and Entertainment, evaluated the proposals. "We are pleased with the success of many of last year's grant recipients and are excited to see what these new recipients are able to achieve with this assistance," said NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Vice President Sue Donohoe. "When resources are allocated and efforts are focused to promote women's basketball, it can provide a meaningful return on the investment." Joining San Diego State as 2009-10 grant recipients are Auburn University; Big South Conference; Cornell University; East Tennessee State University; Eastern Michigan University; Iowa State University; Patriot League; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Hartford; University of Kansas; University of Miami (Florida); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of South Carolina, Columbia; West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference. The first year of the grant program went very well and we are anticipating more success in year two," Donohoe said. "The membership has had a tremendous interest in securing grant resources to advance women's basketball. It is important that we continue to work to grow women's basketball from the inside out and at the grass roots level." Grant recipient success stories in 2008-09 included Texas Tech University, which doubled its student attendance for women's basketball home games; Florida State University increased season ticket sales by 63 percent, with a 55 percent increase in overall attendance for women's basketball; East Tennessee State University increased its average attendance by 231 percent and several grant recipients set record single game attendance marks. San Diego State, which played host to the NCAA First & Second Rounds, increased its average attendance by nearly 23 percent and posted three of the top five crowds in Cox Arena history. The program will be evaluated following its second year to determine if the objectives are being met. Grants are awarded on a one-year basis and are not automatically renewed. This marketing initiative concept was generated from the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Discussion Group, chaired by NCAA President Myles Brand. The group consisted of head coaches, media representatives, former student-athletes and conference, institutional and Women's Basketball Coaches Association administrators. This initiative has been strongly supported by the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee. About the NCAA and Division I Women's Basketball NCAA women's basketball is characterized by strong fundamentals, high quality of play, sportsmanship, role model student-athletes and family oriented entertainment. For the latest news in regard to the Women's Final Four, visit www.ncaa.com/finalfour. About SDSU's Ticket to Thrive program
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