The Value of “Ca$h Money”

I’m not sure where the age line is except to say I am well over the line where cash means something to me.  I’m not just saying that money means something to me but actual paper currency has a distinct value to me.

I say this because I have lately been struck by certain demographic group’s inability to handle cash. 

Here are a few examples:

We are at a school play and I make a cash purchase.  I hand you $10 for $7.38 of items.  (Why you didn’t consider sales tax when you set prices I’ll never know.)  You stop and use a calculator to determine the change rather than count up to $10: 2 pennies to $7.40, a dime to $7.50, 2 quarters to $8 and 2 dollar bills to round it up to $10.  And, I got my change first (see my next rant).  Seriously, a calculator to make change for a ten – you’re kidding me, right?

I pull up in my rolling dining room to a fast food coffee place.  My order comes to $2.53 and I hand you $5.  You hand me my coffee and snack then two dollar bills with $.47 in change on top.  Whose idea was it that putting change on top of currency?  GIVE ME MY CHANGE FIRST!!!!!  They all do it because that is how the cash register presents the information to the cashier.  It’s only partially their fault because they have never been taught how to handle money.  On the rare occasion I am handed my change first at my favorite coffee place it is usually by a person who is at least 35 years old.

I receive cash deposits from co-workers every day.  I can open and count an envelope without looking at the depositor and know if the person is over 35.  Currency is in order, all facing the top and occasionally the heads even in the same direction.  Under 35?  There is no apparent order to the stack.  Some bills are folded and they are often out of order.  $50’s and $5’s mess them up because they count by $100 rather in order from the highest to the lowest.  For example, an envelope with $658 may cash grouped in $100’s with no regard to order with bills folded and in every direction.  They must not have any idea how a cash drawer works…no clue!

For years we have talked about how credit cards, debit accounts and online banking are making cash obsolete.  Our children use cash so much less than we do.  Swipe cards are their cash.  Think about it…they use cards for meals in the dining facility, swipe their card to get gas, tap it to buy snacks, use it to get copies in the library and even scan it to buy subway fare.

I’m not sure I will ever see a completely cashless society but I have no doubt it is coming.  How sad that even piggy banks will be virtual some day.

Life is good!

Jude

Twitter: MidMajorMom

Twitter: JudeCaserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com

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Athletics and Institutional Support

I think about 14 NCAA schools athletic programs had excess of revenues over expenditures last year.  In the world of profit accounting, their athletic department made a profit. So, let’s see…if about 1,000 schools belong to the NCAA and 14 schools made a profit then…98.6% of schools had to rely on at least some institutional support last year to survive.

Without ever studying the numbers (but relying on my 20 years in college athletics experience) I will venture a guess that most schools provide at least 90% plus of the funds an athletic department needs to function.  Those of us with small arenas (arena is a funny haha word – more like gymnasiums) have a limited ticket revenue stream.  And then there is that silly thing called winning which contributes to the equation.  Let’s face it, those of us who have to budget need to assume the team will have a losing season without much walk-up game-day business.  When there is success then the “extra” revenue can be used for “extra” things rather than for the business of running the department.

Have you noticed that no expense is going down?  Funny thing!  While we experience flat line budgets things like transportation, equipment and the biggest money sucker of all, officials, are going up like a skier on a tow rope.  I call officiating an unfunded mandate.  While it’s tempting not to pay them…well…you know…

Here is another thing about institutional support.  The ability (and willingness) to fundraise can change the amount and percentage of institutional support.  This was something I worked hard to educate folks about during our current self-study.  For our example our fictional school has a general student ratio of 45% men and 55% women.  Let’s say the Men’s Table Tennis team has a coach who is a prolific fundraiser.  He is a world champion and has an international following.  He receives donations which he uses for team travel and recruiting and the players are decked out in the newest clothing and have state of the art equipment.  The Women’s Table Tennis team has the exact budget as the men at the beginning of the year, $250,000.  The men spend $300,000 and women spend $275,000 but the men’s deficit is covered by their booster money.  In spending dollars the men outspent their female counterparts by $25,000 bringing the balance to 52% male and 48% female. OH NO!  But wait, there’s more!  In reality the actual institutional support is $250,000 for the men and $275,000 for the women now showing the actual balance at 48% male and 52% female.  Ahhh…much better…

Here is another question: should the men’s program be limited to how much they can spend even though they work hard to raise it?  Is that really what we mean when we say “gender equity?”

As we embark on a complete organizational review at our school, part of the new initiative begun by our new president, I have to remind the committee that if they are looking at athletics as a profit making venture they are going to have to move to one of those rare 14 schools that flipped their program last year.

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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What to Do First?

Well, I guess I shouldn’t be sitting here writing, when there is so much to do at work…but I am because I promised myself I would post twice a week. 

My office moved last week.  Actually, I moved my stuff to another office last week.  It is wonderful and I love it.  I love not being next to the gym…that got really old after the first summer camp five years ago.  I seriously am not complaining but bouncing balls and screaming children (summer)/college athletes (school year) can grate on your nerves like a real alarm clock across the room.

I’m in a hallway with colleagues rather than only one (who misses me although he would never admit it!) and there is a bathroom on our floor.  Don’t laugh – that’s huge!

With the move have come some challenges.  I got rid of about 10 boxes of material to be shred. In spite of the extra room, I actually have less storage space.  I will likely keep moving things around for a few weeks.  I have not gotten much work done for nearly a month because I had audit prep, the audit and now the move.  The piles are getting higher and here is the order I will assign each task.  Here is my actual To Do list:

HR/Payroll – time to complete letters of appointment and send information to payroll

Reimbursement checks – be sure coaches and staff gets reimbursement as quickly as possible

Team Travel – set up the fall team travel advance checks

Visa Statements – distribute July Visa (yup, I know it’s late – sue me!)

Officials – view assigning website and set-up game official payments for all fall sports (I have to search for the passwords every year.  Maybe this will be the year I put everything in one place!)

All the other crap which steals my time and will likely jump above the rest of the list.

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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5+ Tips to Make This Your Best NCAA “Audit”

When is an audit not an audit? When it’s Agreed-Upon Procedures!

Friday concluded the active period of the audit of agreed-upon procedures.  The nice young man from Deloitte and I shook hands and off he went, going back to his office to write up all we discussed and summarize his findings.  All the while he was there, camps continued, folks began moving into their offices and coaches readied their locker rooms for the influx of student athletes arriving on campus this past weekend. 

For nearly two weeks I either prepared materials for the audit or was searching for information requested as part of his testing.  Unlike an independent audit and random testing, agreed-upon procedures transactions are easy to identify.  An auditor needs to “test” each agreed-upon procedure and should have each sport represented.  If you glance at the trial balance detail you can likely find the transactions they will want to see.

Tip 1: Arrange a comfortable space for the auditor to work.  I have heard stories of where institutions will put the auditor in a hot or cramped space with the idea they will leave faster if they do not have comfortable quarters.  This works about as well as giving coffee to a drunk. 

Tip 2: Be sure cost centers are organized in well marked file cabinets.  If you have separate budgets for operating, recruiting, fund raising, camp, etc. group them all in one large hanging file, identified with cost center name and any numeric identification.

Tip 3: Print, print, print.  For one time every year, redundancy is ok!  Have one notebook with the trial balance and one notebook with agreed-upon procedures.

Tip 4: Identify the largest transactions in each cost center, by agreed-upon procedure.  Prior to the audit, go through each cost center and identify the largest transaction in each line item.  Arrange the folder so that these back-up materials are on the top.  This will save a ton of time during selection search.

Tip 5: Identify other folks in and out of athletics who will likely be asked for information.  Each year our Softball coach is asked to provide his camp information to the auditor.  This year, in a fit of exasperation, he asked me why he is always the one chosen to provide camp information during the audit.  Simple answer: he has the largest camp each year.  Be sure the ticket manager, facilities manager and head athletic trainer are available during the audit.  Each of them are usually responsible for large transactions so they will likely have to explain a few of them each year.

Bonus Tip: Rather than copying originals before sending them to institutional business invest in a scanner.  Arrange the scanned documents by month and document number.  When a transaction is requested by the auditor, simply print the document.  They can use this as proof of transaction or bring it with them to institutional business to follow-up.

These are just a few of the tips from The Shadow System © Audit Prep Guide.  It’s not too late to get ready for a great audit.  Please e-mail me for more information.

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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Countdown to the Audit – 8 days

This year my NCAA audit of agreed-upon procedures begins Tuesday, August 3, 2010.  During this preparation, I also gather information for the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA).   While I have not technically done anything for it, I have been preparing for it all year. 

I created The Shadow System © Audit Prep Guide a few years back to help me consistently report our school’s financial position while helping me compile data annually which can be benchmarked with other schools.  Our conference does this so it is vitally important our data is consistent and comparable.  There will be more information on our website during the next few weeks.  Contact us if you would like to get more information on how you can get a customized The Shadow System © Audit Prep Guide. 

While these entries may not be clever and pithy, they will give you a general idea of what goes on in any athletic business office (big or small) and help you get ready for this annual disclosure.

External Audit: Remember, only NCAA Division I must have an external auditor review their NCAA Agreed-Upon Procedures annually.  Division II must be audited at least every three years while Division III does not ever need to have an external auditor review their procedures.  Division III may feel like they are off the hook but I always recommend to my Division II & III friends they also have their books reviewed annually.  This is especially important while trying to create fiscally responsible budgets and for creating the culture of fiscal integrity.

This To-Do list will highlight what I am doing every day until the audit:

8 Days to go (July 26, 2010):

Print:  Take last year’s notebooks (The Shadow System © Audit Prep Guide) and print each section.  Keep previous notebook for reference during preparation.

Data Mining from outside sources: Using the Audit section of The Shadow System © Audit Prep Guide, contact others on campus whom have data needed to complete the EADA. 

Information includes:

Enrollment numbers from previous year

Scholarship information from financial aid

Roster information from compliance

Capital projects and assets from institutional business and finance.

Please go to the contact section http://athleticbudgetcoach.com/contact/ and start a conversation!

I have to run…I have a lot to do today!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com

Follow me on Twitter: JudeCaserta

Join my network on Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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5 Reasons NOT to Ask Me if I Work in the Summer

I am sure EVERY athletic administrator deals with this question each time they tell someone what they do for a living:

Wow!  Cool!  You work at a school!  Do you have your summers off?

There are exceptions to this (jobs such as athletic training and administrative assistants may have summers off) but the vast majority of folks in college athletics are on campus or performing work duties off campus all summer long.

These are one Athletic Business Manager’s top five reasons NOT to ask me if I work during the summer:

1.       Everyone gets a new budget: that means there is money again.  A huge number of purchase requisitions are processed during the summer.  Recruiting services, memberships and software licenses are paid in the summer.

2.      If it’s the new year we must be closing last year: the first two weeks of June are among the busiest of the year.  Closing while you are opening is challenging and doing it well takes experience.

3.      I work in the mines – the data mines: Every journal entry, each index assignment on a purchase requisition and every cash receipt are assigned a code so that when we summarize the year during the audit we can find and collate transactions.  Data mining takes time!

4.      Our audit is in the summer: all roads lead to the audit.  Our NCAA Audit of Agreed-Upon Procedures takes place sometime between mid July through the first week of August.  Being “engaged in the engagement” is essential!

5.      Student Athletes go to summer school: we need to be sure scholarship student athletes who must attend summer sessions have lodging and food.

6.      Bonus reason! Summer Camps: there are deposits to be made, bills to pay and workers to process.

Never a dull moment in college athletics!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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#CABMA 2010 Take Away Thoughts

It’s hard for me to believe that I am already home and CABMA is just a memory.   I had a wonderful time seeing friends and meeting new ones.  I have a bunch of business cards which I look forward to using to reach out and keep in touch. 

I enjoyed the social events a lot but the time difference really curtailed the fun I usually have.  I really look forward to Orlando next year…only 51 weeks until live Karaoke!

Following is a summary of my take away thoughts for each speaker.  I could not conclude the round tables.  On a round table note, I have heard suggestions that there should be more discussion and less presentation.  I thought it was a fair criticism.  I suppose there should be a happy medium between presentations and free for all.  I would love to hear any suggestions.

Here goes:

Side Note:  I did not have a take away line from the opening speaker.  I went to Sunday Mass.  I think it was horrible CABMA was scheduled on a Sunday without any time for worship.  I know it is not CABMA’s fault and that we are at the mercy of NACDA and the dates we get from them.

Managing Consumer Fees to Impact Bottom Line Results: Folks from Paciolan, Derrick Magee, Assoc. AD – Business Operations, Cincinnati

Take Away Line: Jane: At the end of the day ticketing is an accounting sub-system!

Raising the Profile of a Growing Athletics Department: Lynn Hickey Assistant VP/Director of Athletics at University of Texas at San Antonio

Take away thought:  The role of Collegiate Athletics is determined to build equity in UTSA degrees.  I think the entire thought process is fundamental in any athletic department mission.  It is more than value added; it is a change in the culture.

Compliance & the Athletics Business Office: Judy Van Horn, Associate Athletics Director Compliance/SWA at University of Michigan

Take away thought: Business and Compliance are intricately connected.  It is our responsibility to be sure we communicate with Compliance and establish checks and balances.  It’s not good enough to say you don’t know what you don’t know!

Identifying Fraud: Kevin Robinson, Executive Director, Department of Internal Auditing, Auburn University

Take away thought: Pay attention! Perception of detection is the best deterrent to fraud. And, NEVER leave your P-card purchased margherita machine on top of the refrigerator so the investigative reporters can record it!

Taking a Critical Look at our Radar Screen: Dutch Baughman, division IA Athletic Directors Association

Take away thought: You are what you think.  Don’t say what you think, say what you know.

Creative Facility Financing: Tom Stultz, Senior VP & Managing Director, and Steve Moore, IMG

Take away thought: Use of funds becomes a question of stewardship

Preparing Effective Financial Presentations: Craig Angelos, Director of Athletics at Florida Atlantic University

Take away thought: It’s important to educate people along the way about the financial condition of your school with transparency to add to credibility.

Keynote Speaker: Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics at University of California

Take away thought: everything comes back to financial sustainability

NCAA/EADA Benchmark Reporting and Fundamentals of Sports Travel: Keith Martin, Interim VP for Administrative Services/CFP and Nikki Watson, Assistant Director of Business Intelligence and Project Management, NCAA

Take away thought: they change and adjust the data submission process each year and welcome any suggestions and comments.

Take away thought: it’s key to have someone in your organization who can act as the go-to person regarding travel.  The online education tool can be accessed online via NBTA.org and will be available August 1, 2010 for a fee of $395.

Common theme: Stakeholder Identification

Common theme: Front Porch (portal to Academics)

Common theme: Knight Commission: June 17, 2010 http://www.knightcommission.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=584:june-17-2010-knight-commission-calls-for-college-sports-reform-recommends-public-transparency-of-finances-and-new-financial-incentives&catid=1:content&Itemid=11

College Sports 101: A Primer on Money, Athletics and Higher Education in the 21st Century

http://www.knightcommission.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=344&Itemid=84

We need to all pay attention to the above articles.  It’s critical to our jobs and vital to our institutions.

I still believe we are responsible for creating a culture of fiscal integrity!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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#CABMA 6/22/10 Conclusion

Last night:  the power of vendors.  It’s good to get to know the vendors.  This way you don’t have to order a sandwich and eat in your room in front of your computer.  It was like being at work!  Met some friends and we decided to head up to my gynormous room (this is where I list them and put them in the blog, ok so here goes (several nicknames courtesy of Zags) Jersey Boy, Monmouth Rules, Chick with a Dude’s name, Zags, Vermont, Columbia, Scotty Don’t, Luther/Calvin, Wants my job, Pitt-rookie.  Forgive me for forgetting anyone. 

More of last night:  Calvin from The Bus Bank was in the lobby and suggested I charge my drink to his room, 633.  So I did, at least I tried.  I order and tell Michael the bartender (good pour) 633 please.  He asks me what the name is.  I say The Bus Bank.  He asks me if I have a name.  I say Luther…no no…Calvin.  Michael: does Calvin have a last name?  I say, I’m sure he does but I don’t know it, after all, I just called him Luther.  I charge it to my room.  When I go back to where Luther/Calvin is sitting he asks me if I charged the drink to his room.  I tell him I tried but the guy didn’t recognize the name.  That’s when Luther/Calvin told me he is staying at the Hilton. NICE!

Lottery Breakfast:  I actually showed up on time this year!  How ‘bout that bacon with an attitude?  You could tell when someone ate it at the table; Ben Jay, The Ohio State University,  went for his water with eyes watering!  I always love the folks who show up with their exchange gift in a laundry bag, or this year, the CABMA packet bag!  Love it!  I still think this is one of the most charming things we do each year – great bonding!

Exhibitor Awards Presentation:  Someday I will win those plane tickets!  It always amazes me how the same folks names are drawn throughout the drawings – they should play the lottery, legit!

Branding: I like the increase in branding this year.  The podiums have had the CABMA logo and the exhibitor card boxes were custom this year.  Nice touch.  I think it would be interesting to carry this even further by having all of the presentation slides prepared with a CABMA logoed template.

Background noise: What the heck are they are doing behind those funky garage doors?

Keynote Speaker: Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics at University of California

Two people on the line – Directors of Athletics and Financial folks

It’s all about value

Technology has changed everything

Common theme: Stakeholder Identification

What is the value added of intercollegiate athletics? Individually – teamwork, discipline, self confidence; Student Body – sense of community, point of connection to alumni and community; To Campus – public relations, brand building philanthropy vehicle

Common theme: Front Porch (portal to Academics)

College football is meant to be played in stadiums on college campuses

What the hell are they doing back there, geesh? Maybe there is a hockey game going on and those are the dasher boards! Sorry…

Monetize the loss to academic philanthropy if something bad happened to Intercollegiate Athletics - the risk to the university is substantial

Power of language: not deficit, not subsidy it is Institutional Support.  All staff and coaches must be “on message.” 

Maximize perceived value: Academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, student athletes must be true students.  Don’t even think about cheating!

Financial sustainability: Arms Race, what do we do about industry practices that don’t fit EDUCATIONAL objectives?

Common theme: Knight Commission Report

Value to campus – PRICELESS!

Take away thought: everything comes back to financial sustainability

NCAA/EADA Benchmark Reporting and Fundamentals of Sports Travel: Keith Martin, Interim VP for Administrative Services/CFP and Nikki Watson, Assistant Director of Business Intelligence and Project Management, NCAA

NCAA and EADA differ:  compensation, capital expenditures, and overall institutional expenses

NCAA scrubbed data for follow-up this year

Six year trends in Division I Athletics finances:  FBS is increasing more quickly on both revenue and expenses.  Revenues increased by 41% t total expenses grew by 58%.  YIKES!

Only 14 institutions that fully fund athletics without institutional support

Top revenue category: Ticket sales then Institutional Support

I’m not a fan of people who keep talking during a presentation. Scram! Just sayin’ (sorry I’m getting tired and crabby)

Take away thought: they change and adjust the data submission process each year and welcome any suggestions and comments.

Sport Travel Task Force:  National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and the NCAA

Different: short window for planning; charters; hotel blocking; late check-out; role of superstition; high profile travelers

Travel: tends to be done by folks who have never done travel before and may just be another “hat” they wear.

Initiatives of task force: baggage fees and improved group check-in process at airports, communicate with vendors to help them help us, fundamentals of sports travel online program

Online Sports Travel:  this is a program meant to qualify folks to be qualified to be a sport travel professional

That train just went by again…the room is not prime…

Nikki will generously share her Power Point slides which are full of great information and data

Take away thought: it’s key to have someone in your organization who can act as the go-to person regarding travel.  The online education tool can be accessed online via NBTA.org and will be available August 1, 2010 for a fee of $395.

Closing Remarks:   Frank Hardyman – congratulations Frank! Sleep well!

Stay tuned: CABMA social media is on its way.  The CABMA group in Linkedin will be online very shortly.

My next blog: I will summarize all of my take away thoughts.  I would love to hear if you have different ones and hope you will jump in and let me know!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta

Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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#CABMA 6/21/10 All Darn Day!

Last night: the dinner cruise was beautiful but got a little rocky when Colleen Garrity, Business Manager at Purdue University drove the boat into the rocky Pacific.  Nice job!!!  The time zone thing finally got me last night.  As much as I would have loved to hang out with everyone after the cruise I could only envision getting upstairs into my bed.  Glad I did!  Maybe karaoke tonight?

Alarm clock: note to self – be sure the sound is ON before going to bed.  That’s the only way you are going to hear the alarm.  So much for breakfast on the concierge floor!

Clutch: My computer restarted during Kevin Robinson’s presentation.  I thought it was lost forever but Timothy McCleary, CPA – Assurance & Advisory Services at Ernst & Young.  Tim has a great story – he is looking for a job in athletic business and came to CABMA to network!  Brilliant!  Hire him!  

Identifying Fraud: Kevin Robinson, Executive Director, Department of Internal Auditing, Auburn University

Occupational Fraud: where a person commits fraud on the organization.  Today we are talking about employees who had no intention of committing fraud.

The Ultimate Ponzi scheme: Social Security!

Kevin’s stand-up routine is very engaging.

Fraud Triangle: Pressure (non-sharable) – Rationalization – Opportunity

Slides – he has great slides with big pictures.  He must have read “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs” because his words tall his story and he uses his slides to support it.  They are well laid out and clearly written!

Higher Ed: out of 22 industries higher education is 7th in frequency of fraud

Red flags: Individual: high debt, in early out late, lifestyle Organizational: lack of internal control, low employee morale, turnover, and lack of ethical tone at the top.

Most common sources of theft: P-cards, Cash, Expense Vouchers

Take away thought: Pay attention! Perception of detection is the best deterrent to fraud. And, NEVER leave your P-card purchased margherita machine on top of the refrigerator so the investigative reporters can record it!

Taking a Critical Look at our Radar Screen: Dutch Baughman, division IA Athletic Directors Association

            Talk about what we know, not what we think

Knight Commission www.knightcommission.com : economic impact study

To create more transparency – comparison of athlete costs and academic costs

Create a reward system where schools are rewarded by academic success

Time to consider Student Athletes as STUDENTS, not as PROFESSIONALS

Leadership: humility (from “Good to Great” by Jim Collins) regarding Level 5 Leadership

Filter reality in your head. 

Coordinator salaries are increasing even faster than head coaches.  Unsustainable.  It is like playing mom against dad.

Compensation: he does not see anything self-correcting about this.  The concept of level playing field will never occur.

Criteria: who will come up with the comparison between academic costs and athletic costs?  How will we gather data to actually compare apples with apples or as Dutch says it, what we know, not just what we think.

Search: Right fit; best qualified for the job; Interview – chemistry test.  Can this person come into our institution and speak?  If you are selected is simply because they liked you better.  They can trust this person.  Understand the elevator speech where you have 90 seconds to make your pitch.  Understand the conclusive statement and the impact it has on your audience.

Take away thought: You are what you think.  Don’t say what you think, say what you know.

Vendors: I love visiting with the vendors.  It’s like Christmas in June. That’s the upside.  The downside is that it’s like shopping at Tiffany’s with a $100 budget.  We make less in ticket revenue than it costs to invest in real interactive streamlined customized ticketing software.

Creative Facility Financing: Tom Stultz, Senior VP & Managing Director, and Steve Moore, IMG

Currently: demand for facilities up, political pressures and academic funding is significantly reduced

Mindset in college athletics: Old: pricing and operating to meet current budgets.  New: pricing and operating to maximize future revenues. 

Partners: it is imperative to have several national partners with like minds to work together to achieve any large project

Current climate: now is the time to build.

Funding models: bonds, operating lease vs. capital lease, donors, public financing, tax increment funding – any combination of these to maximize new and existing revenue opportunities

Zags: there is Jared Hertz, Gonzaga again! Just noticed there is a Zags picture (and others) on the bottom of the slides!

Assisting the Business Office: IMG would work with the business office staff to prepare the financial research.  Bond application is very time consuming.  IMG would take more of the burden on themselves to take charge of that process.

Take away thought: Use of funds becomes a question of stewardship

Awards Luncheon:

And the winner is:

George Eldridge Distinguished Service Award: Jim Kotch from Texas A & M

CABMA Manager of the Year: David Steele, Associate AD/Finance at Marshall University

Preparing Effective Financial Presentations: Craig Angelos, Director of Athletics at Florida Atlantic University

Speak to the stakeholders

Educate the population – use terms people will understand; reach out to all learning styles

Head Coaches: how much money is left? When do I get reimbursements?

Associate/Assistant AD’s: awareness of revenue if they are responsible for its generation; the sports that report to them if they are a supervisor; their cost center

Director of Athletics: good to meet regularly.  Are we going to balance? What are the variances?

VP Business Affairs/CFO: current budget review, variances and your plan for next year

President: 3-5 year projections, how we are in relation to our peers and simply if we are going to balance

Board of Regents/Trustees: the big picture only; the budget plan

Boosters:  impact of donations, capital projects

Athletic Board of Directors:  benchmarking

Be transparent – hide the ball

Credibility

Methods of delivery: charts, Excel spreadsheets

Craig:  has a fun presentation style

Take away thought: It’s important to educate people along the way about the financial condition of your school with transparency to add to credibility.

Round Tables: Today I had the opportunity to talk to folks about Strengthening the Business Office/Athletic Department Relationship.  I met with a lot of people who had some great ideas of how they build the relationship.  My favorite thing that happened, however, was when a woman sat next to me and asked me if I knew Tom Caserta.  I not only know one but I am married to him.  Maria Behm, Associate Director of Athletics at Loyola Marymount University graduated from Canisius College a few years before I did and knew my husband.  Small World!!!!

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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#CABMA 6/20/10 Afternoon

Internet connection: This is kind of frustrating…sort of feels like the old saying “let no good deed go unpunished!”  I am having a hard time getting online in the convention hall.

Convention room:  I tell people I’m from Buffalo.  Next thing I hear is, “Wow – it must be so cold there!”  Um…gosh…no…anyway, I think there’s a wind chill in this room.

First day advantage: I wonder how full the room will be tomorrow after the cruise.  This is a first day full house.

The chatter among the vendors: can be very distracting 

Raising the Profile of a Growing Athletics Department: Lynn Hickey Assistant VP/Director of Athletics at University of Texas at San Antonio.

The most important team you put together in athletics is the administrative team. 

I loved hearing about her humble roots at UTSA.  She described a culture I am so familiar with at a mid-major school.

I also understand her struggle to let people know you are Division I.  My niece is coming to Canisius in the fall to swim and my own sister told me we were not Division I.  Really?

It is beneficial for both athletics and academics to establish a new peer affiliation while recognizing they are more than football.

They have raised academic standards twice and it has not hurt enrollment but actually helped it.

She is a very interesting woman who has been part of the emergence of women in college athletics.  She is the only female Director of Athletics in the state of Texas.  Pretty good for a girl!

Take away thought:  The role of Collegiate Athletics is determined to build equity in UTSA degrees.  I think the entire thought process is fundamental in any athletic department mission.  It is more than value added; it is a change in the culture.

Compliance & the Athletics Business Office: Judy Van Horn, Associate Athletics Director Compliance/SWA at University of Michigan.

Pay now or pay later!  Invest in compliance now or pay the price when you have an infraction. 

Finances are easy to audit: because of this infractions are easier to find this way.

Failure to monitor: You have to be aware of the compliance rules regarding finance. 

Lack of institutional control: if you have a concern you need to bring it up and be sure you have an audit trail and establish a “paper trail” – e-mail is easiest.  If it is not in writing it never happened. 

She is a smart woman who is passionate about compliance and helping business offices avoid compliance violations.

Basic NCAA Rules:

Academic Integrity: if you see something say something

Agents: no agreement from an agent and never take a benefit

Boosters: be aware of “high risk” boosters who can provide extra benefits

Gambling: you can never gamble on any sport that is offered by the NCAA.  It does not matter if your school does not sponsor the sport.  If it costs money it is a violation.

Tracking extra benefits

Personnel: make sure you are not exceeding coaching maximums including GA’s.  

Volunteer Coaches: cannot pay for recruiting meal, no development, no bonuses, no scouting

She asked “who else cannot scout?” and Rob Rusnack, Associate AD/Budget at Columbia University replied “my Dad! He’s just not that good!”  Ouch!

Official Visit: booster meal cannot be paid for

Take away thought: Business and Compliance are intricately connected.  It is our responsibility to be sure we communicate with Compliance and establish checks and balances.  It’s not good enough to say you don’t know what you don’t know!

James Gibson: water boy – what a nice guy to get Judy water when she was choking to death.

Roundtables: If anyone would like to share their experiences on the comment area please feel free.  You must register first but after that you can comment on any entry quickly and easily.

Cruise: I don’t care if John Wayne didn’t own the boat – it’s a really cool idea!

I’m obsessed with Karaoke.  Just sayin’

Until next time!

Jude Russo Caserta

AthleticBudgetCoach.com/blog

Twitter: JudeCaserta Linkedin: Jude Russo Caserta

Facebook fan page: Athletic Budget Coach

E-mail: judi_caserta@athleticbudgetcoach.com

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