New Year's Message from Mack Rhoades
1/7/2025 4:21:00 PM | General
Dear Baylor Family,
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the joy and blessings of the new year. Thank you to those who cheered on our Football team in Houston at the Kinder's Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve. While the outcome was not what we hoped for, we remain grateful for the marked turnaround this season, and the momentum gained as we lean into next year.
Additionally, a special thank you to those who remained in Waco to cheer on our Men's and Women's Basketball teams at the Foster Pavilion.
Reflecting on the past year, we have much to celebrate across our 19 sport programs, none of which would be possible without the generosity of our loyal alumni, generous donors, faithful ticket holders and dedicated fanbase.
FALL HIGHLIGHTS:
A busy and exciting fall led to key accomplishments across all of our sport programs. A few highlights include Football earning its 12th bowl trip in the last 15 years, courtesy of the longest win streak to conclude a regular season with six consecutive wins. Baylor Soccer also finished strong with a five-match winning streak and first-round victory in the Big 12 Championships over Arizona, with their overall RPI finishing up 38 spots from the 2023 season.
Both Volleyball and Tennis provided Baylor with the opportunity to serve as a host site for NCAA tournament affording us the opportunity to showcase our facilities and southern hospitality. Volleyball earned a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking the ninth straight NCAA Tournament berth and the fifth time in the last eight years the Bears opened postseason at home. In November, Men's and Women's Tennis participated in the inaugural NCAA Singles and Doubles Tennis Championships in Waco, kicking off a 2024-25 season which also features the NCAA Team Championships in May.
And we are grateful to be well into our first full season of Baylor Men's and Women's Basketball in the now fully completed Foster Pavilion.
A CHANGING LANDSCAPE:
And as we embark on 2025, I am reminded of Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." This scripture reminds us of the promise of renewal and the opportunity for new beginnings even in the midst of the unknown.
The dynamic landscape of college athletics has posed fresh challenges and increased costs, demanding our attention at the highest level. From the transactional realities of the transfer portal, to conference realignment, the expanded CFP, and approaching revenue sharing with our student athletes - the financial burden on athletic departments around the country is unlike any time before. While we have been strategically navigating vital changes over recent years, new and significant shifts will impact us in the year ahead.
I hope this letter finds you well and filled with the joy and blessings of the new year. Thank you to those who cheered on our Football team in Houston at the Kinder's Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve. While the outcome was not what we hoped for, we remain grateful for the marked turnaround this season, and the momentum gained as we lean into next year.
Additionally, a special thank you to those who remained in Waco to cheer on our Men's and Women's Basketball teams at the Foster Pavilion.
Reflecting on the past year, we have much to celebrate across our 19 sport programs, none of which would be possible without the generosity of our loyal alumni, generous donors, faithful ticket holders and dedicated fanbase.
FALL HIGHLIGHTS:
A busy and exciting fall led to key accomplishments across all of our sport programs. A few highlights include Football earning its 12th bowl trip in the last 15 years, courtesy of the longest win streak to conclude a regular season with six consecutive wins. Baylor Soccer also finished strong with a five-match winning streak and first-round victory in the Big 12 Championships over Arizona, with their overall RPI finishing up 38 spots from the 2023 season.
Both Volleyball and Tennis provided Baylor with the opportunity to serve as a host site for NCAA tournament affording us the opportunity to showcase our facilities and southern hospitality. Volleyball earned a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking the ninth straight NCAA Tournament berth and the fifth time in the last eight years the Bears opened postseason at home. In November, Men's and Women's Tennis participated in the inaugural NCAA Singles and Doubles Tennis Championships in Waco, kicking off a 2024-25 season which also features the NCAA Team Championships in May.
And we are grateful to be well into our first full season of Baylor Men's and Women's Basketball in the now fully completed Foster Pavilion.
A CHANGING LANDSCAPE:
And as we embark on 2025, I am reminded of Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." This scripture reminds us of the promise of renewal and the opportunity for new beginnings even in the midst of the unknown.
The dynamic landscape of college athletics has posed fresh challenges and increased costs, demanding our attention at the highest level. From the transactional realities of the transfer portal, to conference realignment, the expanded CFP, and approaching revenue sharing with our student athletes - the financial burden on athletic departments around the country is unlike any time before. While we have been strategically navigating vital changes over recent years, new and significant shifts will impact us in the year ahead.
- Throughout the fall, you may have followed the developments surrounding the House vs. NCAA class action case settlement, which received preliminary approval from the U.S. District Court in Northern California with the final hearing set for April 7, 2025. Upon approval, this settlement is set to allocate a total of $2.8 billion in NIL back damages paid over 10 years to Division I student-athletes who competed from 2016 to present – paid in part by the NCAA and its partner institutions, resulting in a reduction in future NCAA distributions to Baylor and the other Power 5 institutions.
- In addition, Baylor will now compensate student-athletes directly for the use of their NIL for institutional purposes up to a projected annual budget of $20.5 million beginning this upcoming 2025/26 academic year, and increasing by 4% annually thereafter.
- The settlement also proposes to eliminate scholarship limits and introduces team roster size limits through roster caps, enabling universities to provide as many scholarships as there are roster spots. Currently, there is a limit on scholarships a school can award per sport, with most sports having no roster size limit yielding a substantial increase in total future scholarship costs.
PROACTIVE MEASURES:
My intent with this letter is to update you on the current industry landscape, to bring awareness of our need for additional financial support, and to inform you of self-imposed efforts to aid in the mitigation of these financial challenges - to whom much is given, much is required.
My intent with this letter is to update you on the current industry landscape, to bring awareness of our need for additional financial support, and to inform you of self-imposed efforts to aid in the mitigation of these financial challenges - to whom much is given, much is required.
- Football Season Ticket Pricing: After several seasons of flat pricing, a market-based adjustment has been implemented across the stadium for the 2025 season. To balance this measure, Bear Foundation minimum seat options will not change at this time. Additionally, a new value-based season ticket for low-demand areas of the stadium has been added for the upcoming season. To view updated pricing information, click here.
- Commercial NIL: We have partnered with Playfly Max to leverage untapped commercial NIL opportunities for student-athletes, creating a professionalized and strategic approach to engaging corporate entities as it relates to NIL. Additionally, our shift to Playfly Sports Properties as our multimedia rights holder has proved beneficial with significant sponsorships and revenue growth secured over the past two years.
- Departmental Advancements: In addition to our existing partnership with GXG Elite, we've established our own in-house NIL department to better serve student-athletes by providing tailored support and resources to help them successfully navigate NIL opportunities.
- Cost Containment: As a department, we've also implemented various cost containment strategies in both hiring and operational practices, and we will continue to explore additional revenue-generating opportunities.
OUR SHARED COMMITMENT:
While these shifts bring financial and operational hurdles, they also provide opportunities for adaptation and innovation as we uphold our commitment to achieving athletic excellence and fostering the holistic growth of our student-athletes.
Your ongoing generosity, dedication, and belief in Baylor's mission is instrumental to our future success as we navigate this dynamic landscape together. Thank you for being a valued member of our Baylor Family and for the role you play in Preparing Champions for Life.
Warm Regards,
Mack
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