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Build National Awareness and Advance Priorities through Athletics

St. Thomas will transition to Division I athletics because we aspire to expand the impact of our common good mission. This opportunity will raise our national profile, further transform the differentiated educational experience of our students, and galvanize excitement and pride among our alumni.

As we build the infrastructure necessary to succeed at the Division I level, we will maintain high student achievement both in academics and athletics. Increased awareness from athletics will assist in attracting students from across the country. Additionally, as athletics serves as an important partner in initiatives that support university mission, campus and student life, student access and achievement, and donor cultivation, we will further advance institutional priorities. Together this will create an energized culture of student-athletes and fans that generates engagement on campus with students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors.

As the newest of the top 20 nationally ranked Catholic universities to join Division I, St. Thomas will emphasize comprehensive excellence to rise even higher among these peers.

Related Themes

2025 Strategic Plan Ever Press Forward through Innovation Widen the Circle
of Impact
Build National Awareness and Advance Priorities through Athletics Priority Priority

See how the Themes and Priorities of the 2025 Strategic Plan interweave.

Measuring Progress

  • Success Metrics
  • Progress Update
  • Key Leaders

    • Success Metrics

    1. Maintain student-athlete academic outcomes (GPA, GSR and APR).
    2. Increase geographic diversity of general student body, both athletes and nonathletes by recruiting a more geographically diverse student-athlete population. Move from 90 percent of U.S. students from Minnesota and Wisconsin to 82 percent by 2025.
    3. Increase the media coverage outside of Minnesota and in specialty publications as measured by tracked media hits.
    4. Maintain positive student-athlete experience, measured through student-athlete experience surveys, exit interviews and retention data.
    5. Increase school spirit and alumni connections to St. Thomas as measured through student surveys, alumni surveys, and student/faculty/staff/alumni game attendance.
    6. Increase corporate engagement through incremental corporate sponsorship/partnership programs with athletics.
    7. Achieve fundraising goal of $37.5 million to support annual expenses through the annual fund, major gifts and endowments in the next five years. In addition, make progress toward a longer-term facilities fundraising goal of $175 million.

    Progress Update, February 2022

    The St. Thomas 2025 Strategic Plan debuted in February 2021. We continually track and report on our progress; here are key developments from the past year, as of February 2024:

    National media coverage of athletics this year has included ESPN Family Networks, Big Ten Network, FS1, Bally Sports, FOX 9+, PAC12 Network, Yahoo sports, Sports Illustrated, Washington Post, NY Times, Twin Cities Business Magazine, Seattle Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Charlotte Observer, and USA Today.

    A few highlights:

    • Our regionally broadcast women's hockey game vs. UMD on Bally Sports was distributed to more than 2 million homes.
    • We increased digital content by 8x over FY22, leading to an increase of more than 10,000 followers on Twitter and almost an additional 10,000 in Instagram.
    • Saw an average of 23% increase in overall attendance in ticketed sports for FY23.
    • Average men's basketball student attendance increased over 60% and men's hockey increased over 50% from our first to second year.
    • Managed a group of 15 students to produce 120+ live stream broadcasts and 70+ scoreboard shows.
    • Developed a strategic plan to upgrade broadcast equipment and technology to improve the fan experience.
    • Hosted the University of Minnesota in men's and women's hockey with an attendance of over 11,000.
    • Football competed at Harvard, drawing more than 1,000 Tommie fans to Boston.
    • Men's basketball played on national TV vs. UC-Berkeley (Cal) and Marquette.
    • Women's basketball hosted both Iowa State and Wisconsin in Schoenecker Arena.
    • Launched first-ever linear/broadcast television partnership with Fox 9.
    • Men's hockey, men's basketball and women's basketball have all spent time in first place of their respective conferences in FY24.

    Key Leaders

    • Phil Esten, Vice President and Director of Athletics (Primary)
    • Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee
    • Omar Correa, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
    • Vice President of Marketing, Insights and Communication

    Success Metrics

    Success Metrics

    1. Maintain student-athlete academic outcomes (GPA, GSR and APR).
    2. Increase geographic diversity of general student body, both athletes and nonathletes by recruiting a more geographically diverse student-athlete population. Move from 90 percent of U.S. students from Minnesota and Wisconsin to 82 percent by 2025.
    3. Increase the media coverage outside of Minnesota and in specialty publications as measured by tracked media hits.
    4. Maintain positive student-athlete experience, measured through student-athlete experience surveys, exit interviews and retention data.
    5. Increase school spirit and alumni connections to St. Thomas as measured through student surveys, alumni surveys, and student/faculty/staff/alumni game attendance.
    6. Increase corporate engagement through incremental corporate sponsorship/partnership programs with athletics.
    7. Achieve fundraising goal of $37.5 million to support annual expenses through the annual fund, major gifts and endowments in the next five years. In addition, make progress toward a longer-term facilities fundraising goal of $175 million.

    Progress Update

    Progress Update, February 2022

    The St. Thomas 2025 Strategic Plan debuted in February 2021. We continually track and report on our progress; here are key developments from the past year, as of February 2024:

    National media coverage of athletics this year has included ESPN Family Networks, Big Ten Network, FS1, Bally Sports, FOX 9+, PAC12 Network, Yahoo sports, Sports Illustrated, Washington Post, NY Times, Twin Cities Business Magazine, Seattle Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Charlotte Observer, and USA Today.

    A few highlights:

    • Our regionally broadcast women's hockey game vs. UMD on Bally Sports was distributed to more than 2 million homes.
    • We increased digital content by 8x over FY22, leading to an increase of more than 10,000 followers on Twitter and almost an additional 10,000 in Instagram.
    • Saw an average of 23% increase in overall attendance in ticketed sports for FY23.
    • Average men's basketball student attendance increased over 60% and men's hockey increased over 50% from our first to second year.
    • Managed a group of 15 students to produce 120+ live stream broadcasts and 70+ scoreboard shows.
    • Developed a strategic plan to upgrade broadcast equipment and technology to improve the fan experience.
    • Hosted the University of Minnesota in men's and women's hockey with an attendance of over 11,000.
    • Football competed at Harvard, drawing more than 1,000 Tommie fans to Boston.
    • Men's basketball played on national TV vs. UC-Berkeley (Cal) and Marquette.
    • Women's basketball hosted both Iowa State and Wisconsin in Schoenecker Arena.
    • Launched first-ever linear/broadcast television partnership with Fox 9.
    • Men's hockey, men's basketball and women's basketball have all spent time in first place of their respective conferences in FY24.

    Key Leaders

    Key Leaders

    • Phil Esten, Vice President and Director of Athletics (Primary)
    • Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee
    • Omar Correa, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
    • Vice President of Marketing, Insights and Communication

    Related Stories from the Newsroom

    December 17, 2024

    University of St. Thomas Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced there will be a new food and beverage partner for Tommie Athletics. St. Thomas has selected Levy, the leader in the sports and entertainment hospitality industry, as the official food and beverage partner for Tommie Athletics. Levy will oversee every aspect… The post St. Thomas Selects Levy as Official Food and Beverage Partner of Tommie Athletics appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • December 12, 2024

      University of St. Thomas Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten on Dec. 12 announced a $10 million gift toward the construction of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena by the Iversen family. “We are deeply grateful to Al, Debbie and the entire Iversen family as they continue to demonstrate their support for St. Thomas through… The post St. Thomas Celebrates $10M Gift From Iversen Family appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • December 9, 2024

      No longer just a blueprint, the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena at the University of St. Thomas is coming into view. The multiuse facility on the university’s south campus will host the Tommie ice hockey and basketball programs, as well as play host to special campus events like commencement ceremonies and career fairs. Construction teams… The post Photos and Video: Lee & Penny Anderson Arena Construction Hits Milestone appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • November 26, 2024

      As a senior mechanical engineering major and football player at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Langston Robinson’s journey is one filled with resilience, hard work, and an unwavering dedication to both his academics and athletics. Robinson, a center on the St. Thomas football team, hails from Milwaukee, making his time at St. Thomas… The post A Tommie Explores Family, Football and Future appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

    • October 17, 2024

      University of St. Thomas Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced on Oct. 17 a $20 million gift toward the construction of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena by the Ryan family. “This is an extraordinary gift, and we are deeply thankful for the Ryan family’s commitment to this project,” said Esten. “The Ryan family… The post University of St. Thomas Celebrates $20M Gift From Ryan Family appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.