Strategic Plan

1 Pillar One: Graduating Leaders




1 Pillar One: Graduating Leaders

A r i z ona W ildc ats At hlet ics / BEAR DOWN BLUEPRINT

1 Pillar One: Graduating Leaders


3 Intro

/ BEAR DOWN BLUEPRINT INTRODUCTION Before we share where we’re going, we want to thank those who helped us get here. This strategic plan is the product of countless conversations, shared aspirations, and collective belief in the power of college athletics to change lives. We are deeply grateful to the University of Arizona leadership, the Arizona Board of Regents, our dedicated coaches and staff, passionate student-athletes, loyal fans, and our generous donor community. Each played a critical role in shaping this vision and positioning Arizona Athletics for a bold and sustainable future. In just one year, Arizona Athletics has laid a powerful foundation for a new era — one rooted in competitive excellence, bold innovation, and an unrelenting commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes. Every voice had the opportunity to be heard, every program was evaluated, and every opportunity was met with action. We began with our people. Through one-on-one meetings and a comprehensive department-wide SWOT analysis, we set expectations, built trust, fostered alignment, and developed a shared vision for the future. We committed to transparency and unity, and that has stabilized the organization and ushered in a new chapter of leadership — with nearly every key position filled and the structure in place to meet the moment. At the heart of this transformation is a renewed commitment to “One Arizona” — a culture where every team, every staff member, every student-athlete, and every Wildcat supporter moves forward together, united by shared values, common goals, and pride in the Block A. This mindset continues to drive collaboration, elevate performance, and build the foundation for sustainable success. Arizona Sports Enterprises (ASE), our newest revenue initiative, launched with ambitious goals — and reached them all in its first year. At the same time, we welcomed three dynamic new head coaches to lead our Swimming & Diving, Women’s Golf, and Women’s Basketball programs. Each of these leaders brings fresh energy and championshipcaliber ambitions to Tucson. On the field, our tradition of excellence continues. Arizona Triathlon captured a National Championship, while Men’s Basketball maintained national prominence with a Top 20 ranking, multiple sellouts, and wide-reaching national exposure. Gymnastics reached the program’s first-ever Sweet Sixteen, and Baseball, Softball, both Golf programs, and Men’s Tennis earned Top-25 rankings — showcasing our strength across the board. In back-to-back defining moments just one week apart, Arizona Women’s Golf and Men’s Tennis made history by capturing the department’s first and second Big 12 Championships. Led by head coaches Giovana Maymon and Clancy Shields, these championship victories not only mark milestone achievements but also signal the immediate impact and rising momentum of Wildcat programs in our new conference home. The energy from our fans has been unprecedented. ZonaZoo memberships exceeded 12,000 for the first time, while attendance records were broken in Basketball. Football viewership soared by 42%, with five nationally televised games on FOX — up from none the previous year. We didn’t wait for fans to come to us — we went to them. The Bear Down Takeover Tour took us more than 1,000 miles across the state, bringing Arizona Athletics into the heart of local communities. But it wasn’t just about outreach — it was about service. From packaging food to cleaning up neighborhoods, we rolled up our sleeves alongside the people we represent. The journey reaffirmed a simple truth: we’re not just a team in Arizona — we’re Arizona’s team. Internally, we took a disciplined approach to financial sustainability. In just six months, we reduced expenses by $4 million and resolved over $1.5 million in past-due invoices. We implemented structured budgets for every sport and administrative unit — reinforcing accountability, planning, and transparency. We also modernized our fundraising operation, hired our new Chief Development Officer, and prepared our team for the evolving donor landscape. We are proactively navigating the future of collegiate athletics. Our team has built a compliant, sustainable model for revenue sharing and hired an Associate Athletic Director for Contracts to manage the complex legal and financial dimensions of NIL and the broader regulatory environment. Perhaps most importantly, our student-athletes are thriving — not just in competition, but in the classroom and in life. We posted the highest GPA in department history, launched a new financial literacy initiative, and began working toward a cutting-edge academic series focused on branding — including the potential creation of an undergraduate minor in partnership with campus faculty. Our momentum is not defined by a single achievement — it’s cemented by the culture we’ve built, the systems we’ve reimagined, and the clarity of purpose that now guides our entire department. With the right people in place, a clear vision for the future, and a commitment to serving our student-athletes, Arizona Athletics is positioned not just to compete — but to lead. One Arizona. We are proud of how far we’ve come. But we’re not done yet.

3 Intro

4 How We Got Here

/ BEAR DOWN BLUEPRINT HOW WE GOT HERE Understanding where we have been is the start of determining where we want to go. Arizona Athletics aims to be the modern model for intercollegiate athletics success, and our path towards excellence requires that we regularly hold ourselves accountable for our performance. In collaboration with the Eller College of Management and Dr. Paul Melendez, we created the Bear Down Blueprint to serve as our road map. To define our mission, our values, our culture, our goals, and our priorities, the process began in early 2024 when the Department of Athletics engaged with student-athletes, coaches, staff, and key stakeholders of Arizona Athletics to listen and to learn about their experiences with Arizona Athletics. The Department of Athletics used the following methods to gather feedback and data: 1. STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOT) ANALYSIS: ▶ We developed a SWOT analysis and used the feedback, together with studentathlete meetings, one-on-one meetings with every staff member and coach, as well as campus constituents, to help identify Arizona Athletics’ strengths as well as opportunities for growth. 2. FAN SURVEYS: ▶ We sent out fan surveys to approximately 150,000 Football, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball fans, and then analyzed and interpreted the data. 3. CARAVAN LISTENING TOUR: ▶ We traveled more than 1,000 miles, visiting fans and connecting with our Arizona community and beyond. We listened to stories from our passionate supporters and learned about the traditions and history that make Arizona Athletics special. 4. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS COMMITTEE (ICAC): ▶ We connected with our campus faculty and staff members to hear their priorities for athletics to further strengthen a successful partnership between the campus and the Department of Athletics. We continue to keep the ICAC informed on initiatives. 5. DONORS: ▶ We engaged with our donor base through events and individual meetings to understand their experiences with the Department of Athletics. As we thoroughly reviewed the feedback and data, we shared the findings with the Department and then charged a committee of staff and student-athletes to review and refine the Department of Athletics’ mission and core values — building blocks for the Bear Down Blueprint. The Bear Down Blueprint is a living document, which will adapt as the needs and demands of our Department and intercollegiate athletics evolve. In the following pages, our charge, mission, 6. STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: ▶ We engaged with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during their monthly meetings and solicited their thoughts and vision for Arizona Athletics. 7. FACULTY SENATE: ▶ Our Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Ricardo Valerdi, engaged with Faculty Senate and key leaders across campus. 8. STUDENT-ATHLETE SURVEYS: ▶ We conducted a robust student-athlete experience survey, compiled data, and implemented enhancements. 9. FAN COUNCIL: ▶ Our marketing team brought together a group of fans, donors, and members of the community, soliciting feedback and insights into strategic game day and engagement initiatives. 10. INDIVIDUAL STUDENT-ATHLETE MEETINGS: ▶ Monthly, a cross-section of student-athletes met directly with the Vice President and Director of Athletics, providing candid feedback and insights. vision, values, goals, and priorities are shared. Arizona Athletics’ success will be the result of execution, alignment and partnership between student-athletes, staff, coaches, the University, our community and Wildcat Nation. We look forward to celebrating success together, resulting from our collective efforts as we move Arizona Athletics forward.

4 How We Got Here



7 Our Charge

/ BEAR DOWN BLUEPRINT OUR CHARGE CORE PURPOSE AND CORE VALUES: Identify Arizona Athletics’ core purpose and core values and showcase a department committed to winning with people, providing a complete, holistic student-athlete experience and connecting, growing and inspiring the University of Arizona community through the state and beyond. CULTURE: Establish a culture of inclusive, values-driven, student-athlete focused and high-performing Arizona student-athletes, coaches, and staff. GOALS: Define our department goals and how we will create the roadmap for success. ENGAGEMENT: Engage the state of Arizona and beyond to create best-inclass experiences for both our student-athletes and fans. ASSESSSMENT: Continually assess the Department of Athletics through metrics and benchmarks.

7 Our Charge

8 Building Our Foundation

/ BEAR DOWN BLUEPRINT BUILDING OUR FOUNDATION MISSION: Develop and graduate leaders as we win championships and galvanize community. VISION: Modern model for excellence in intercollegiate athletics. WHO WE ARE: We are values-based, student-athlete focused, and high-performing. CORE VALUES RESPECT ▶ INTEGRITY ▶ COMMUNITY ▶ EXCELLENCE ▶ RESILIENCE ▶

8 Building Our Foundation

The University of Arizona

and the Tucson Community have embraced my family and I and shown us how special it is here. There are championship standards at Arizona and we work every day to uphold those standards and continue to make a positive impact on everyone who supports us. > Tommy Lloyd HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

The University of Arizona



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