Feb. 29, 2008

TO: Supporters of USF Athletics
From: David Macmillan
RE: Men's Basketball
Date: February 29, 2008

I write to make you aware of the coming university plan to re-establish the credibility and competitiveness of our Men's Basketball Program and to correct several of the mis-statements made in the media and currently circulating among some alumni.

I begin by re-affirming the obvious: the administration cares very much about the Men's Basketball Program and understands the role this program has played in our history and can play in our future. The goals for our coaches and student-athletes in this program are the same as for our other 13 intercollegiate teams:

- to compete as one of the best teams in the West Coast Conference
- to play fair within the framework established by the NCAA (compliance)
and
- to assure the academic progress of all student-athletes.

In 2002, the administration presented to the Board of Trustees a five-year plan, Reaching New Heights (RNH), to achieve these goals in all sports. As a result, extraordinary additions were made to the Athletics Department budget, totaling a funding increase of approximately 65%. Men's Basketball was a particular beneficiary of these budget additions. Since then, many of the RNH goals have been achieved. In sports where there was not progress toward achieving these goals, changes in leadership were made, including in the sports of cross-country, volleyball, and women's soccer.

This is exactly what has happened in Men's Basketball.

It is ironic and unfair that when the Athletics Director takes decisive action to address a program whose direction is deficient in multiple areas, she is accused on "non-chalance." While one can disagree with the specific corrective actions taken, it is absolutely wrong to claim that the Athletics Director is responsible for the need to take such action. This includes a revolving door of student-athletes and assistant coaches in Men's Basketball over the last 3+ years that occurs in no other sports. This pattern is inconsistent with our commitment to provide these student-athletes with a full Jesuit education that would benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Finally, later this spring you can expect to see a comprehensive plan to address the process of moving forward our Men's Basketball Program. The plan will include the completion of renovations to War Memorial Gymnasium. Admittedly, this project has not been planned or executed well to date. For that, I take the primary responsibility.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or Debra Gore-Mann directly with any questions or comments on these, or any other Athletics-related issues.