VIDEO CLIP OF PRESS CONFERENCE
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will once again have a men's tennis program, beginning in 2023-24.
The decision, announced today by UNK Director of Athletics Marc Bauer at a news conference, comes four years after men's tennis was eliminated as part of $2.8 million university budget reduction.
UNK is able to bring back men's tennis after a private donor agreed to create a $3.4 million endowment that will fully fund the program's operating and scholarship needs.
"This is another exciting, proud day for Kearney and the Lopers. This is big for the university and UNK Athletics, and I am thankful for everyone who has been involved in helping reinstate the program," Bauer said.
Bauer said the decision was driven by "donor priority" and discussions that began in 2018 when the donor approached UNK shortly after the program was eliminated.
"This was not a surprise to me given the passion and enthusiasm for tennis in the Kearney community," Bauer said. "We are grateful to the donor for making this a possibility, and we will honor the donor's desire to remain anonymous."
The Lopers will play home matches at Kearney's Harmon Park and the new indoor Ernest Grundy Tennis Center, which opened this spring at University Village.
Head Coach Scott Shafer
Scott Shafer joined the UNK tennis program in 2013 as an assistant and was elevated to head coach in 2019. He will serve as head coach of the team and will also continue to coach the women's tennis team. The men's team will carry a roster of about 10 players and begin play with the 2023-24 season.
"It is prudent that we wait one full year to begin practice and competition," said Bauer. "That gives Coach Shafer ample time to recruit, plan and schedule competition, as well as allow the endowment to accrue."
UNK offers 15 NCAA Division II sports – 9 women, 6 men – and competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. With the addition of UNK, the MIAA now has 10 men's tennis teams competing in the conference. That includes full-time members Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State, Washburn and Newman, and associate members Augustana (SD), Harding (Ark.), Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), Southern Arkansas and Southeastern Oklahoma State.
The Lopers have a long and successful history in men's tennis. The program competed in the NAIA from 1941-90, when it won more than 20 conference titles and had multiple top 30 finishes at the national meet.
The team continued its success at the NCAA level, where it competed from 1990-2018 and recorded 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and four trips to the Sweet 16. UNK won 152 duals from 2010-18 and had five consecutive NCAA appearances during its MIAA tenure from 2014-18.
"Although it will take some time to reestablish the program, I am confident that the program is back and here to stay," said Bauer. "I am appreciative of the support of the university and continued efforts to create and provide the best possible collegiate experience for our student-athletes."
Men's Tennis Reinstatement – Q&A
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is reinstating its men's tennis program. The decision comes four years after men's tennis was eliminated as part of $2.8 million in overall university budget reductions.
What changed since 2018 to produce this decision? A private donor, who has asked to remain anonymous, created a $3.4 million endowment that will fully fund the program's operating and scholarship needs.
Who is the donor? Is the donor one of those who helped fund the new indoor facility? The donor has asked to remain anonymous, and we are honoring that request.
Did UNK actively pursue donors or did this donor come forward on their own? This was driven by "donor priority." Discussions first started in 2018, when the donor approached the university shortly after the program was eliminated.
Did the opening of the new indoor tennis facility have a role in this decision? Did UNK feel pressured or obligated to bring back men's tennis? No. While the addition of the indoor courts gives the team a great facility for practices and matches, it did not play a role in the decision.
The 2017-18 UNK men's team
In 2018, the university said it would take $5 million to bring back men's tennis? But the amount coming from donors today is $3.4 million. Explain the $1.6 million difference.
A development strategy exists that will transition existing endowed funds towards the men's tennis program over time. The $3.4 million being donated will be put into an endowment, and the earnings-income generated from it will sustain the program. These funds, based on the time value of money, are expected to achieve the target endowment of $5 million.
Does this money guarantee men's tennis is here to stay forever? Although it will take some time to reestablish the program, we are confident that men's tennis is back and here to stay
Will UNK bring back baseball and / or men's golf if a donor comes forward? How much would it take to reinstate those sports? We are open to those conversations. To fully fund the operating and scholarship needs would require an endowment - using earnings-income on a larger investment - of at least $10 million for baseball and $2.25 million for men's golf. Like men's tennis, UNK is willing to engage with donors who have an interest in the return of these programs.
What was the annual operating budget for men's tennis in the past? It was $184,527 in 2017-18. That included an operating budget (travel, uniforms, officials, misc.) of $48,986 and 3.3 scholarships at $88,996. The remainder was for coach salaries.
What will the total operating budget be moving forward? $220,540
How many scholarships will be offered, and what are they valued at? 4.2 scholarships, which covers the NCAA equivalency. They are valued at $135,000 annually.
Will coaches or support staff be added? Scott Shafer, who joined the UNK tennis program in 2013 as an assistant and was elevated to head coach in 2019, will serve as head coach of the team. He will also continue to coach the women's tennis team.
A new assistant coach will be hired. Support staff that is in already in place – athletic training, for example – will work with the men's tennis team.
How many players will be on the men's tennis team? We plan on carrying between 8-10 players in the first year. That's a similar number as past years.
How many student-athletes compete at UNK?
The Athletic Dept. averages 450 student-athletes at the start of the school year. The breakdown is 258 male and 222 female.
Does this addition create Title IX challenges? No. We are within Title IX requirements. However, we always continue to assess and work diligently to support an equitable environment where both men and women have equal opportunities to participate and receive benefits.
When assessing gender equity status, we examine three key areas:
- Ensure that UNK provides participation opportunities for women and men that are substantially proportionate to their respective enrollment rates as full-time undergraduate students.
- History and continuing practice of program expansion for the underrepresented gender
- Fully and effectively accommodate the interests and abilities of the underrepresented gender.
- Scholarships - Equitable scholarship allotment to men and women at the same proportion as their respective participation rates in intercollegiate athletics
- Benefits - Demonstrate that both genders have the same benefits, such as locker rooms and practice and competitive facilities.
