General | 5/27/2014 3:42:00 PM

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May 27, 2014-A recent study conducted by Dr. Jeff Tubbs at the Cost of College Sports recognizes Emporia State as the most efficient athletic department in the MIAA.  The study covers the years 2009-2013 and basically measures the cost per win by taking into account conference wins and losses in football, volleyball, soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball, along with total expenditures of the department.

"I have known for a long time the quality of Emporia State's athletic program," said Dr. Tubbs. "They have the most efficient overall athletic program in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and that the conference is one of DII's strongest."
 

Most Efficient MIAA Programs from 2009-13 1. Emporia State 2. Ft. Hays State 3. Washburn 4. Neb.-Omaha* 5. Central Missouri *No longer in the MIAA

Emporia State was ranked the most efficient comprehensive athletic program among the 16 schools that were members of the MIAA at some point during the four year period.  The study also ranked the best on field performance and a combination of the efficiency, on field performance and graduation rate. Among the schools that were members of the MIAA for the entire four year period and are still full members of the MIAA, Emporia State is the second ranked program in on-field performance and the combined performance, efficiency and graduation rates. Two of the schools in front of Emporia State in the rankings were not members of the MIAA for the entire four year period.   

"This is another example, from an objective outside source, that verifies what we have believed for a number of years. Overall our programs have the best cost per win ratio in the MIAA," said Weiser. "I am very proud of our coaches and of course our student-athletes. Our coaches continue to make good decisions on how to invest their resources."  

The Cost of College Sports produces an annual review of performance efficiency for each of the NCAA's 98 conferences across all three divisions.  Spending data is pulled from the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics Disclosure Website database. This database consists of information submitted annually as required by the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act by all co-educational postsecondary institutions that have an intercollegiate athletics program.  Although there may be some differences in accounting principles used by the individual schools it is the only source where all institutions that receive federal funds are required to disclose this financial information.

Ten points are assigned for a regular season conference victory and 20 points for each post-season conference tournament win.  Only games in the conference regular season and post season tournaments are used in order to maintain a level playing field.  

The graduation rate points are taken directly from the Federal Graduation Rate Report available from the NCAA that includes only student-athletes that received athletics aid.

"The results from the Cost of College Sports study documents Emporia State athletics is the best steward of funds in the MIAA," said Steve Sauder, Champion for Athletics for ESU's Now & Forever campaign. "This study backs up what (Assoc. AD) Shane (Shivley) and I tell potential donors – ESU Athletics truly does accomplish more with less.  Consequently, future donors to Hornet Athletics will know they will be receiving an amazing bang for their hard earned bucks!"

The Lady Hornet basketball program was recognized as one of only two sport programs in the MIAA to be both the most efficient and the highest performer on the court during the four year period.

Since the 2009-10 school year, the first year of the study, the Emporia State won ten MIAA regular season or post season tournament championships, finished second nine times and made the semifinals in each of the six sports with a post season tournament.  The conference success has led to success on a national scale with 15 NCAA post season appearances among the seven sports, highlighted by the Lady Hornets winning the 2010 NCAA Division II Basketball National Championship.

Emporia State ranked either 13th or 14th out of 15 schools in total athletic department spending in each of the four years of the study.  Emporia State's average spending over the course of the study ranked 14th out of the 15 schools and totaled just 71% of the average for the entire league. For comparison Central Missouri, who had the best on the field performance but were fifth in efficiency, spent 142% of the league average.

"I believe those who support Emporia State Athletics - students, ticket holders, donors - will be pleased to know the we're getting the most out of every dollar we have," said Weiser. "An investment in Hornet Athletics is spent wisely and helps bring success to our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom."

The 2013-14 school year, which is not included in the study, the teams involved in the study went 97-40-3 in conference play for a .704 winning percentage.   All seven of the team listed finished the regular season above .500 and won at least one game in their conference tournament. Emporia State had 11 of the 15 sports programs compete in NCAA post season play with five teams finishing in the top 20 nationally.

"This report does not include the incredible success our programs experienced in 2013-14 seasons," said Weiser. "Taking that into account, it is a safe bet Emporia State will retain the number one spot for efficiency in next year's report."

The year began with the Emporia State football team finishing second in the MIAA and advancing to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time in ten years, the women's soccer team going to the MIAA Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history, and the Hornet volleyball team tieing for fourth in the regular season standings. The winter saw the Lady Hornet basketball team win the MIAA Tournament for the second straight year in their fourth straight appearance in the title game, while the men's basketball team defeated eventual national champion Central Missouri and joined the Mules as the only two programs to finish the regular season in the top eight of the MIAA in each of the last 12 years. In the spring the Hornet softball team won the MIAA regular season championship while the Emporia State baseball team finished second in the regular season and won the conference tournament.

Emporia State will be holding the annual Auction and Golf Tournament on June 6-7 to benefit Hornet Athletics.  The auction is Friday, June 6 at White Auditorium, beginning with a social hour at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets for the Auction are $35 and includes a meal of heavy hors d'oeuvres, drink tickets and the chance to bid on a variety of auction items.  The Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 7 at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course.  The cost is $125 a person or $500 for a team in the four person scramble.  The entry fee covers the round of golf, the cart, an adidias polo shirt, a sleeve of Emporia State golf balls, beverages during the tournament, and a post tournament lunch at Bruff's.

For a complete look at the reports available from the Cost of College Sports go to costofcollegesports.com and click on Free Reports.

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