Frequently Asked Questions

As the leadership of William & Mary continues its efforts to achieve budget stability, assure Title IX compliance and determine how to plan for and achieve the best possible future for Tribe Athletics, numerous questions are being asked by alumni, friends and fans. Below are answers to some of the questions we receive most often. However, if you have a question that isn’t answered here, please send it to askwmathletics@wm.edu.

General

William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe announced on March 15 the formation of a search committee that is tasked with finding the university's next Athletics Director. The committee will be co-chaired by Matthew T. Lambert '99, vice president for university advancement, and interim Athletics Director Jeremy Martin Ph.D. '12, MBA '17 and charged with leading a national search targeted for completion by July 1, 2021.
In November of 2020, President Katherine A. Rowe asked the university to undertake a comprehensive review of William & Mary’s Athletics Department to determine how the department can reach sustainable financial stability while meeting the legal requirements of Title IX regarding gender equity. Since the 18-month review period began, W&M has been soliciting input from stakeholders in the university’s internal and external communities. As an institution committed to competing successfully in the highest division of the NCAA (Division I), W&M is working to develop a plan to remove financial uncertainties from the department in order to achieve the level of excellence for which the university is recognized.
The decisions made in the fall of 2020 were based on financial and gender equity issues in the Athletics Department. Those issues remain. The university decided that a comprehensive review is required to ensure the best possible solutions are determined and a reasonable timetable for implementation is established. Athletics is a critically important element of the William & Mary experience, so it is important to take the time to do a wide-ranging assessment of the university’s unique situation and look for solutions that will sustain the department for years to come.
The university has established financial milestones and goals, starting with raising $2.8 million by March 1, 2021 – a goal reached one month early – and good progress toward the June 30, 2021 goal of $4 million. Each sport has individual fundraising goals and is being assisted by the university’s fundraising team. The most important goal is to establish a financial model that will be sustainable beyond the next 12 months. We expect to announce the results of the athletics review in the spring of 2022.
The gender equity review will be completed in June 2021. The information gained from the review will help inform the future plans for William & Mary athletics, which will be completed and announced in spring of 2022.
The university is committed to a Division I athletics program to provide students the opportunity to compete at the highest NCAA level and to strengthen the W&M community. Our student-athletes have historically demonstrated prowess in the classroom and in competition. As ambassadors for the university, they have the opportunity to shine a larger spotlight on William & Mary.
A sustainable financial base is essential, but there are other aspects to consider. The more than 500 student-athletes at W&M are an essential part of the campus culture, and the community engendered by competition in the Colonial Athletic Association and beyond is an important contributor to the esprit de corps of The Tribe.
No. Competing at the highest level of the NCAA is the future of W&M Athletics.
They do not. Across Division I, including both Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) institutions, only a small percentage of football programs break even, let alone bring in revenue. The reason there are 255 Division 1 football programs is that football remains the most popular sport in college athletics, drawing support from internal and external communities.
A sustainable financial base is essential for the entire athletics program. So, it is important that each team try to generate enough support to cover its costs. The goal of the review is to determine the best way forward for the department and the university as a whole. Decisions will not be made piecemeal.
As we continue our work on the athletics review, we are looking at numerous issues including the size and structure of the program, as well as maximizing opportunities for all student-athletes. Financial support for individual sports will be important but it will not be the only factor driving our plans. W&M leadership will make decisions to best position the department and the university for the future.
We hope to sustain the program without reductions, but that will depend on financial support. There are many aspects to consider as we continue the review, and we are looking at the entire department and how best it should be structured in a sustainable fashion into the future.
We will make every effort to keep people informed about the review process and to seek input from interested groups. Interim AD Jeremy Martin regularly meets with alumni, student-athletes, faculty, staff, students, donors and friends of the university. He sends frequent communications to members of the W&M community, and this website will be updated often. Individual questions or comments can be directed to athleticdir@wm.edu.
We are committed to a plan that will provide equitable competitive opportunities. Not only is it the law but it is the right path for us as an institution. The plan created in August will consider a wide range of issues.
Gender equity is part of the university’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity for all of our students. As the university’s student population is composed of close to 60% women, our student-athletes must reflect a similar proportionality.

Financial

The annual athletics budget is almost $31 million. In comparing W&M to nine fellow members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the Tribe has the second-most student-athletes as of 2019 (approximately 500) but five schools allocate more resources per student-athlete than the $60,740 spent by W&M. Three schools that allocate fewer dollars do not have a football team.
Yes, there is an overall structural deficit in the Athletics budget. In recent years, the department has had more expenses than revenues, which required depleting reserve funds in order to balance the budget.
By state law, as an auxiliary enterprise, W&M Athletics must be self-supporting. The university cannot use revenues from tuition, nor state funds, to support athletics. Nor can resources be reallocated from academic programs or other auxiliaries.
Any percentage increase in institutional support must be matched by a comparable percentage increase in athletics-generated revenue. At its current levels, W&M Athletics would need to increase its revenues, which include philanthropy, by $1 for every $1 increase in institutional support.

Per Virginia law, W&M cannot run an operational deficit and the university must balance its budget annually.
Taken together, every sport contributes to the overall Athletics deficit. Some sports come much closer to covering their costs than do others, but in order to ensure a sustainable Athletics Department for years to come, Athletics’ finances have to be viewed in totality.
Each sport has been given a fundraising goal for the next year based on raising $7,500 for each student-athlete in the program. Every sport will have a new goal in subsequent years that must be met in order for the department to achieve sustainable budget stability.
Athletics’ financial problems have been exacerbated by COVID-19 with fewer games being played and less NCAA funding, but the deficit existed before the pandemic. The longer it takes before competition returns to “normal”, the more the pandemic will affect the department’s budget.
There are costs associated with being Title IX compliant but every university that receives federal funding must be compliant. W&M Athletics for years has struggled to develop sustainable funding for its sports programs. The cost of competition, upgraded facilities, and personnel and scholarship costs are significant contributors to the expenses of the department.
There are three main sources of revenue: institutional support, operating revenue and private funds. Institutional support comes from student fees, over $2,000 per student, and direct university support. Operating revenue is money received from ticket sales, concessions, broadcast revenues, out of conference agreements and contributions from the NCAA. Private giving encompasses donations, annual income from endowments and Tribe Club reserves.
In the near term, the Athletics Department has scrutinized its budget with an eye to trimming costs. Savings have come from a hiring freeze for vacant positions, significantly reducing the number of competitions and overnight travel, reducing equipment purchases to only mission critical items and temporarily halting scholarship increases unless it is required for gender equity under Title IX.
The cost savings are viewed as necessary for this fiscal year, especially during the pandemic, but will be revisited in FY’22.
Additionally, athletics fundraising is being emphasized to bring in new dollars in order to help gauge the sustainability of operating 23 sports beyond ‘FY26.
The university has established financial milestones and goals, starting with raising $2.8 million by March 1, 2021 – a goal reached one month early – and good progress toward the June 30, 2021 goal of $4 million. Each sport has individual fundraising goals and is being assisted by the university’s fundraising team. The most important goal is to establish a financial model that will be sustainable beyond the next 12 months. We expect to announce the results of the athletics review in the spring of 2022.
The university supports Athletics financially by providing more than 50% of the department’s revenue. Each student pays over $2,000 annually to support athletics through student fees, making W&M the second highest Division I institution in Virginia on student fees paid to Athletics.
By continuing participation in Division I athletics, the university offers potential and current student-athletes extraordinary opportunities to enrich their lives by matriculating at a prestigious university while competing at the highest level of college sports. W&M’s student-athletes are considered integral contributors to the culture of the institution.
In FY’21, Athletics reduced its budget by more than $5 million. Savings have come from a hiring freeze for vacant positions, significantly reducing the number of competitions and overnight travel, reducing equipment purchases to only mission critical items and temporarily halting scholarship increases unless it is required for gender equity under Title IX.
The cuts to the budget are necessary at this time but will have to be reviewed in FY’22. When it is judged to be safe to return to full competition within the CAA and elsewhere, the Athletics Department will need to determine if its commitment to quality and equity can be achieved with the current budget reductions.
The university is looking for ways to address the budget deficit. Ways to positively affect the budget could include reducing the number of games, reducing the number of road games, adjusting the number of support staff, raising more funds, debt restructuring and reducing sport sponsorships.
Every avenue for erasing the deficit and finding new sources of revenue is being analyzed. Since state law mandates that Athletics must be self-sustaining, W&M cannot shift funds from other sources to subsidize Athletics.
A sustainable financial base is essential for the entire athletics program. So, it is important that each team try to generate enough support to cover its costs. The goal of the review is to determine the best way forward for the department and the university as a whole. Decisions will not be made piecemeal.

All In Campaign

Alumni, parents, students, faculty, coaches, staff and friends were incredibly generous to W&M Athletics during For the Bold. The impact of the campaign will undoubtedly be felt for generations to come. It is important to note, however, that nearly one-third of all gifts given during For the Bold were in the form of pledges, estate gifts and other commitments and will be realized in the years ahead.
Despite generous philanthropic support from our loyal donors, the athletics department continues to face significant financial challenges. W&M Athletics relies on annual cash gifts to operate each and every year, and there are immediate needs that must be met. A successful campaign will demonstrate support for our student-athletes and ensure that we can sustain their programs, advance equity, provide appropriate facilities and fund essential scholarships.
A sustainable financial base is essential for the entire athletics program and higher levels of philanthropic will be required going forward. If we raise $55 million aligned with the identified goals of the All In campaign, we can better secure the future of all our Division I sports teams, student-athletes, coaches and staff. It is important that each team generate enough support to cover its costs every single year.
The reality is that W&M on average faces a $5-million deficit every year — severely impacting the university’s ability to sustain operations unless W&M raises $55 million, including $5 million annually in immediate-use funds, by June 2023.
As the interim director of athletics has stated, all of our programs need to actively build community for William & Mary — also a driving factor that will determine future success — and there are at least two ways to accomplish this:
By generating broad interest and providing the opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate and take pride in William & Mary.
By creating a stalwart community of alumni, family and friends committed to supporting the program’s financial sustainability.
The campaign is raising $55 million to help secure a sustainable future for William & Mary Athletics. In coming up with that figure, W&M’s leadership looked at three critical areas: the cost to establish a strong financial foundation and ensure gender equity for athletics each year; the cost to build a revitalized home for W&M Athletics; and the dollars that are needed department-wide for a variety of needs. Our calculations indicate we need $17 million to secure the financial foundation; $33 million for facility construction and renovation; and $5 million for department-wide long-term costs, recognizing that endowment support will be a bigger component of any future comprehensive university campaign. This will not solve the financial needs for all time but it will move the department toward solid footing if it is sustained on an ongoing basis.
W&M competes in Division I of the NCAA, which is the highest level. This campaign will provide resources to invest in player development, enhance competitive opportunities and allow student-athletes to pursue excellence outside of the classroom.
Kaplan Arena is the home of W&M Athletics and integral to the experience of student- athletes in all 23 sports. Funds are still being raised for the W&M Athletics Complex, which will include the construction of a new sports performance center to enhance every student-athlete’s development and provide for the revitalization of Kaplan Arena, a centerpiece of campus. The investment in a top-quality complex for our student- athletes and fans is a strong statement of support for the approximately 500 athletes who compete for the Tribe. It is also an investment for the W&M community as the new and renovated spaces will be used for university events such as Charter Day.
Kaplan Arena will offer members of both men’s and women’s teams an updated venue with locker rooms and meeting spaces. It will also be an excellent recruiting tool and a drawing card for friends and fans who attend basketball, volleyball and gymnastics competitions.
Construction will now be executed in two phases. Work on the first phase will include the construction of the Sports Performance Center, as well as renovated locker rooms and an enhanced weight room in Kaplan Arena, along with a new videoboard and lighting. It will begin in fall 2021, assuming an additional $7.5 million is raised by then. Phase two will include the full revitalization of Kaplan Arena and, in keeping with the university’s policies on capital projects, will begin when 100% of the project costs have been committed and 75% of the funding has been secured.
W&M Athletics needs a reimagined home for its athletics events that is a shining an example of a first-rate arena and a testament of our investment in the future of athletics.
The successful completion of the campaign will put athletics on more stable footing in the future. It will provide vital resources to enhance the quality of our facilities and programs. Annual giving is a critical component of the W&M Athletics budget each and every year and we will continue to ask for annual support in the future. A consistent infusion of funds over time, through immediate-use expendable funds and endowment income, will allow W&M Athletics to operate and enable all of sports to compete at their very best. The cost of competition for 23 sports is significant and increases each year. The department will need to invest consistently in salaries and facilities in order to achieve overall excellence for our programs. The campaign is essential to the long-term success of W&M Athletics.