The Action Plan for Competitive Success

Elevating athletics is a central goal of the College’s strategic plan, Building on Strength. To support this goal, the College has developed a long-term plan for athletics based on an external review, a trustee-led taskforce, an athletics facilities master plan and a department strategic planning process. The result is the Action Plan for Competitive Success that outlines the actions necessary to make Camel Athletics more competitive through new approaches to recruitment, facilities and team support.

The plan calls for an important evolution in athletics—the coming together of the campus and extended Conn community as “one camel” and “one team” and channeling the collective “power of many” to achieve our ambitious goals.

Elevate the Student-Athlete Experience

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Prepare athletes for optimal performance
  • Create comprehensive strength and conditioning program that prepares athletes for and sustains them through their competitive season(s)
  • Develop enhanced sports medicine program that supports athletes through preventative medicine and effective care
  • Ensure proper nutrition and effective support for athletes’ physical and mental health to facilitate competition at the highest level
Equip teams to excel
  • Establish safety equipment replacement cycle to protect athletes and adhere to NCAA Sports Medicine Guidelines
  • Create department-wide gear and uniforms program to enhance Camel pride and provide an equitable experience for athletes and coaches
Develop scholar-athletes and leaders for the future
  • Expand leadership development programs to prepare athletes for competition and life beyond athletics
  • Inspire academic excellence by connecting faculty and athletes and celebrating the intellectual and athletic achievements of our students
  • Create a more diverse and inclusive climate in athletics
  • Develop more engagement opportunities for athletes on campus and in New London

Invest in Coaching Excellence

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Build a stronger NESCAC level coaching and staffing model
  • Appoint full-time head coaches for all teams to ensure consistent oversight
  • Hire full-time, first assistant coaches to enhance the recruitment and coaching support necessary for success
  • Hire part-time, second assistant coaches for select teams to maintain optimal student-to-coach ratios
  • Expand administrative and support staff to develop a more competitive Division III athletic department
Empower coaches with dynamic professional development opportunities and coaching tools
  • Develop new communication tools to support recruitment, alumni engagement and critical intra-squad communication
  • Leverage trained facilitators to enhance team dynamics and communication
  • Implement video performance analysis software to study team performance and analyze opponents
  • Send coaches to regional and national professional development conferences and programs

Expand Athlete Recruitment

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Leverage the athletics recruitment plan to support College enrollment goals
  • Expand travel to target strong sport-specific regions and untapped markets
  • Increase recruitment of students from historically underrepresented groups
  • Consider establishment of new athletic programs to support enrollment goals
Strengthen coaches’ recruitment and marketing tools
  • Implement department-wide recruitment software
  • Coordinate software and marketing materials with Admissions and Communications
  • Focus messaging on distinctive Conn programs
  • Maximize on-campus recruiting events to showcase the College

Strengthen the Camel Athletics Network

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Engage alumni and parents through the Camel Athletics Network
  • Create Alumni/parent campus and regional events to bolster Camel pride
  • Expand existing career and professional development events to include alumni and parents
  • Develop new opportunities for alumni and parents to contribute their time and talent in support of the College’s athletics program
Launch the Camel Athletics Fund
  • Provide a comprehensive fundraising platform to increase resources for Camel Athletics
Expand communications about Camel Athletics
  • Implement a multi-channel communication strategy to more actively engage internal and external constituents (print, digital and social media)
  • Send tri-annual reports to the College’s leadership boards (Board of Trustees, President’s Leadership Council, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and Parents Council)

Enhance Athletic Facilities

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Develop and advance an athletic facility master plan
  • Create phased plan that can be implemented over time
  • Include support spaces for our athletes, staff, and visiting teams
  • Emphasize facilities for health, wellness, strength and conditioning
  • Improve connectivity of buildings and landscape
  • Enable Conn to host quality events and championships
  • Offer facilities that enable the College to maximize competitive rosters
  • Capitalize on the College’s waterfront assets
  • Make the Athletics Complex a point of pride for Camel athletes and the campus community
Implement a facility branding strategy
  • Design uniform branding scheme for all Connecticut College athletic facilities
  • Create sport-specific branding in key locations
  • Establish new Hall of Fame
  • Feature history of Camel Athletics in prominent location
  • Visually highlight athlete accomplishments
  • Make NESCAC and NCAA branding prominent throughout all athletic facilities