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June 5, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- BIG EAST Championships in every sport within the next five years, continued leadership by UC student-athletes in academics, and community engagement are the main goals of CATAPULT, an action plan for University of Cincinnati athletics unveiled by athletics director Mike Thomas.
Thomas's five-year vision for UC's 18-sport intercollegiate program is being launched on the six-month anniversary of his hiring as AD. The plan focuses on three main initiatives: winning BIG EAST team championships, high-level academic achievement, and a comprehensive integration with the Greater Cincinnati Community.
"It is critically important for our student-athletes, past-present and future, along with our coaches, staff, alumni and fans to know that we are 100 percent committed to being a championship program within the BIG EAST," said Thomas. "Setting specific goals will keep all of our stakeholders focused on where we need to go. The title of the program, CATAPULT, is truly symbolic of what our department is poised to do over the next five-years, which is to leap over the rest of the BIG EAST, all the way to the top."
The basic components of the CATAPULT presentation as shared by Thomas are:
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
UC will win a BIG EAST championship in every sport within the next five years. The Bearcats completed their first year in the BIG EAST without claiming a league title, though almost every sport was competitive.
"It's been my experience that coaches like to have ambitious goals, and we feel that with our first-class facilities plus top flight coaches and staff that we can make championships a priority," stated Thomas. "The best thing about this is that when you contend for BIG EAST titles you are also among the top teams nationally. We will win championships and we will win them doing things the way that they should be done. Best-selling Author Jim Collins wrote in his book Good to Great that you need to set high goals if you are to make great gains. At UC, let it be said that Bearcats have audacious goals."
ACADEMICS
UC student-athletes will set the pace academically by continuing to lead the general student body in graduation rate and over a five-year period outperform the general student body in grade point average. UC student-athletes are graduating at a 61 percent rate, exceeding the 48 percent rate of UC's general student body and on par with the national student-athlete rate of 62 percent. In the most recent compilation of grade point averages, UC student-athletes posted an accumulated grade point average of 2.90 percent while the overall GPA of the UC student body was 3.04.
"Our most important duty as college athletics administrators is to do everything in our power to make sure that each one of our 530 student-athletes receives his or her diploma once their competitive athletics time is complete," Thomas explained. "Where our corporate patrons focus on R&D -- research and development, our focus for UC Athletics is rings and diplomas. This is a crucial covenant that the parents of our prospective student-athletes understand. We will work hard to make sure that these elements are the foundation of our athletics culture at UC."
TOGETHER
UC student-athletes, coaches and staff will respect and honor the privilege of competing as Cincinnati Bearcats. All participants recognize that UC's goals cannot be achieved without engaging the UC family and the Cincinnati community.
"One of the main cogs to our success will be the shared responsibility throughout campus of the UC brand," Thomas added. "Athletics plays a major role in the marketing of the University of Cincinnati. As such we must extend our boundaries and involve the community in helping launch our program to the top of the college athletics landscape. College athletics is no different than any other form of entertainment - you must provide something for the consumer that is personal, significant and unexpected if you want a long-term relationship. This is our external charge and one that we look forward to cultivating."
Additionally, Thomas, along with other UC Athletics staff and student-athletes, will take part in a new community relations program called "BEARCAT CARAVAN," beginning later this month and extending through the month of August. The Caravan, an interactive, high energy display will visit several community events this summer and fall to showcase UC Athletics and the upcoming seasons.
