On Monday, University of Evansville Athletics Director Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried unveiled the “Pathway to Excellence”, which will serve as the strategic plan for the Purple Aces Athletics Department.
“Anyone who has stepped foot on the University of Evansville campus knows that it is a special place. It was obvious from the moment I first stepped on campus in April of 2022 that the university and athletics department have the potential to do great things,” Siegfried said. “In my first year as Athletics Director, it was important to analyze every facet of our department in order to orchestrate a comprehensive strategic plan that puts us on the path to success.”
Teaming up with MRJ Advisors, the department moved forward in an inclusive 6-month process that acquired feedback from multiple groups including coaches, faculty, staff, students, student-athletes, community members, the AD’s Council, the Board of Trustees Athletics Committee and others. MRJ Advisors is led by UE alumnus and former University of Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden.
Entitling the plan as the “Pathway to Excellence” was an important and meaningful part of the process. In 2014, the “Jim Byers Pathway to Excellence” was dedicated outside the Carson Center to honor Coach Byers’ decades-long contributions to the Purple Aces. The ability to incorporate a way to honor the past while aiming for the future was just one way that Siegfried is establishing his culture at UE.
“The ”Pathway to Excellence” provides a clear vision of who we are, where we strive to go and how we are going to achieve that success,” Siegfried added. “Goal areas that we highlighted as being most important are Education, Competition, Campus and Community Engagement, Facilities, Enrollment Management and Resources. Clear-cut strategies have been instituted to serve as the blueprint for achieving each goals.”
Creating a department Vision and Mission Statement set the tone for the project as well as the primary focuses of the department. Five core values were identified and include Integrity, Education, Service, Inclusion and Excellence. UE Athletics defines its vision as “We will face the future unafraid while positively impacting our student-athletes, our university, our local community, and our Purple Aces around the world.”
Expanding upon its vision, the Aces have a defined Mission Statement. “We are dedicated to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience, expecting academic excellence, and creating a championship culture that goes beyond the field of play. As Purple Aces, we assume the responsibility of positively representing the University of Evansville and our community. Steeped in a rich tradition, we honor those who came before us while laying the path for the future. We empower our student-athletes to be courageous leaders by acting bravely in a diverse, ever-changing world.”
Six primary goal areas were established with specific objectives for each one.
Goal Area #1 – Education
- Create the preeminent student-athlete model in the Missouri Valley Conference through continued academic excellence, while promoting additional personal and professional development opportunities.
Goal Area #2 – Competition
- Compete and win at the highest levels of collegiate athletics by optimizing the abilities of our student-athletes and coaching staff.
Goal Area #3 – Campus and Community Engagement
- University of Evansville will be an active, recognized and engaged campus and community partner.
Goal Area #4 – Facilities
- Invest in Athletics Facilities and Infrastructure in order to position the University of Evansville Athletics Facilities portfolio to be among the best in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Goal Area #5 – Enrollment Management
- Contribute to campus enrollment management goals.
Goal Area #6 – Resources
- Manage financial resources in a collaborative manner with UE in accordance with identified priorities and grow athletics revenue streams.
“In an ever-changing world, the “Pathway to Excellence” will be a living document that will track our progress and allow for amended strategies and goals,” Siegfried exclaimed. “Everything we do comes down to this – it is the pride of having Evansville across our chest and representing Purple Aces across the world. Our future is extremely bright and this plan sets us up to achieve new heights.” |
