Anyone checked the job board lately? https://jobs.silkroad.com/Valpo/Careers
Looks like Valpo is hiring for five new teams:
- Disc Golf Club Head Coach
- Head Men's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Flag Football Club Coach
- Head Women's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Triathlon Club Coach
While it is great to see our athletics program growing… does Valpo have the money (or the students) for five new teams? Are any of these recruitment draws?
@kreitzerstl club teams are more similar to “pay for play” teams. Oftentimes students have to pay for gear, travel, etc. to participate. Club sports are typically more competitive because they play against other schools. I’m sure the school isn’t paying much for these positions (most likely all are part-time roles). Team fees might even help pay for the coaches. The school probably views this as a win because they’re offering additional programs at a low cost. The school might offer some type of hardship funds to those that can’t afford to play, but don’t quote me on that.
Anyone checked the job board lately? https://jobs.silkroad.com/Valpo/Careers
Looks like Valpo is hiring for five new teams:
- Disc Golf Club Head Coach
- Head Men's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Flag Football Club Coach
- Head Women's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Triathlon Club Coach
While it is great to see our athletics program growing… does Valpo have the money (or the students) for five new teams? Are any of these recruitment draws?
I don't know about that but will say that the e-sports certainly has been a big draw. Valpo's e-sport teams have won national titles and if you look at the athletic websites you'll see 31 students and 6 coaches. Some players come from as far away as Texas but most come from the Valpo area so I would guess it is at a minimum helping recruit students locally.
Anyone checked the job board lately? https://jobs.silkroad.com/Valpo/Careers
Looks like Valpo is hiring for five new teams:
- Disc Golf Club Head Coach
- Head Men's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Flag Football Club Coach
- Head Women's Rugby Club Coach
- Head Triathlon Club Coach
While it is great to see our athletics program growing… does Valpo have the money (or the students) for five new teams? Are any of these recruitment draws?
These are club teams. It's basically rec sports for students. Which are always a positive incentive for prospective students. Extra curriculars are certainly not frowned upon
While it is great to see our athletics program growing… does Valpo have the money (or the students) for five new teams? Are any of these recruitment draws?
I would guess YES. A friend explained club and even NCAA sports can all make money, you just set your budget lower than what you make off the students. So a flag football rec team of 30 women makes what? Valpo gets 10K a year or more off each? Then what do they spend? Not 300K,,,, prob more like 50k or less.
We know a few families that have kids in club sports, the university support varies. They do play other colleges, but likely student athlete pays a portion as mentioned. 1 we know got uniforms and busses to competitions; another had to drive themselves to competition because they got minimal funding.
We know a family whose son currently plays club lacrosse, small budget for a D1. They play NCAA schools as well as other clubs and are talking going NCAA.
I have referenced Eastern Michigan before who cut sports and clubs a few years ago citing budget cuts. Their OWN accounting professor published the 3rd grade level math showing no they actually lost money because their budgets were lower than what the students brought in.
I think its a good move!
Here is the official statement for the new club sport programs. Good catch on finding the job openings. Seems like a cool idea to me and is being used to help with retention.
https://www.valpo.edu/valparaiso-university-launches-premier-level-club-sport-programs/
This is actually a bigger deal than some may think. There are fairly strong organized bodies that run many of these sports (certainly rugby, which I am somewhat familiar with). I have had students need to travel to regional or national club championships in sports like men's volleyball, baseball, and sailing. Good move by Valpo here.
I guess I am also obligated to say that a famous actor wore his actual club jacket from my university in various parts of a well-known movie. That jacket now hangs in the club's main meeting room.
