$1.7 million program to see greater effort to recruit county talent rather than retain current system where more than 95% of athletes come from outside Yavapai County; it will also alter athletic scholarship program over five-year period so that funds are raised privately by the Foundation
Representative Paul Chevalier
Chair Deb McCasland
Yavapai Community College is taking a new approach to funding and recruiting student athletes.The athletic programs, which all emanate from the Prescott Campus, annually spend about $1.7 million in coaching salaries and related expenses. In addition, they provide athletes with about $650,000 in scholarship assistance from the College’s General Fund. Almost all of the athletes are recruited from outside Yavapai County and many come from outside Arizona.
At the April Governing Board meeting, the issue of scholarships and out-county recruitment was raised by Third District Representative Paul Chevalier. In response to his questions, it was learned that the College is taking major steps to change how it handles athletic scholarships and recruiting.
Vice President Clint Ewell agreed with Chair Deb McCasland that under the College’s new approach the Community College Foundation will seek to raise private money for the athletic scholarships. He stated that if the effort is successful, after a five-year period all athletic scholarships will be self-funded because of private fundraising efforts overseen by the Foundation. This will relieve the General Fund of this obligation.
It was also learned from Chair McCasland, and affirmed by Dr. Ewell, that the College is working to increase Yavapai County student athletic involvement on the various College teams from about one or two percent to about 25%. That is good news to those who have been critical of the athletic program because it has been composed of over 95% of athletes who come from outside Yavapai County. Many of them come from outside Arizona.
You may view a video clip of the Governing Board athletic scholarship discussion below.