2C. Allen Greene DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Hail to Pitt! A Letter From Allen Greene Panther Nation, Every day, we strive to set TheGoldStandard in all that we do. As we built our three-year strategic plan, it was important to focus on who we serve: our student-athletes, our campus and our great city. But this is more than a three-year plan. It is a road map to a successful future for Pitt Athletics. Intercollegiate athletics is in the middle of the most significant transformation in its history. The landscape is changing fast, and the decisions we make right now will shape Pitt Athletics for years to come. This plan is our commitment to meet that moment with clarity, purpose and flexibility. It is organized around five pillars: Student- Athlete Experience, Competitive Excellence, Revenue Generation and Resource Acquisition, Engagement and Brand Advancement, and Operational Excellence. Each one reflects a deliberate choice about where we must invest, grow and lead. These five pillars exist to ensure that every student-athlete, every fan and every member of this community who encounters Pitt Athletics leaves with a higher opinion of this institution than they had when they arrived. I do want to give a special thank you to each of the committee leads and committee members who have worked tirelessly over the last eight months to build this plan. Over 50 members of our Athletics Department have been hard at work since January to help us build a better future. They and the rest of our athletic department will keep showing up every day to set TheGoldStandard . Pitt is anchored in one of the great cities in America, a city that has reinvented itself time and again without ever losing its identity. Our fans are passionate. Our alumni are loyal and connected. Our student-athletes are exceptional. The opportunity in front of us is real, and the chapters ahead for Pitt Athletics are going to be written by the people in this department and the community that surrounds it. We are grateful you are part of it. 3P EOPLE FIRST Our student-athletes are at the center of every decision we make. Their well-being, development and achievements define our success. I NTEGRITY We do what is right, even when it is difficult. Our decisions reflect the values of our University and the Pittsburgh community we are proud to represent. T ENACITY & INNOVATION We compete and operate with relentless effort and an open mind, embracing new ideas and emerging technologies as tools to improve outcomes and stay ahead of a rapidly evolving landscape. T OGETHER & INCLUSIVE We are one team, one department, one Pittsburgh. We win together, we grow together and we are committed to building a community where every person feels valued and belongs. We develop champions in competition, in the classroom and in life. Pitt Athletics exists to provide student-athletes with a transformative experience rooted in competitive excellence, academic achievement and personal growth, while building a program that generates pride across our University, our city and our national fan base. To set TheGoldStandard for college athletics in everything we do. Values Mission Vision 4I. STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE We will provide every Pitt student-athlete with a transformative, holistic experience that prepares them to excel in competition, in the classroom and in life. II. COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE We will cultivate a championship culture that elevates Pitt Athletics in the ACC and nationally. III. REVENUE GENERATION & RESOURCE ACQUISITION We will build a diversified, growing resource base to fuel our student-athletes’ championship experiences. IV. ENGAGEMENT & BRAND ADVANCEMENT We will develop a passionate, growing fan base and elevate the Pitt Athletics brand regionally and nationally through compelling content, memorable experiences and a presence that reaches fans wherever they are. V. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE We will operate with purpose and precision, making strategic investments in our people, resources and infrastructure to drive Pitt Athletics forward and build a foundation for lasting success. Pillars Strategic Plan Committee Chairs Strategic Plan Committee _________________________________________ Amy Anderson, Blaire Ford Student-Athlete Experience ________________________________________ Jen Tuscano, Katie Stumpp Competitive Excellence_________________________________________________ Brant Ust, Dustin Gray Engagement & Brand Advancement___________________________________ Matt Smith, Scott Swegan Revenue Generation & Resource Acquisition___________________________ Kyle Bruce, Leon Jackson III Operational Excellence____________________________________________ Ryan Varley, Wendy Meyers 5Student-Athlete Experience From the moment our student-athletes arrive on campus to the day they walk across the graduation stage, we are committed to supporting their well-being, their academic success and their preparation for everything that comes after sport. The new era of college athletics has fundamentally changed what it means to be a student-athlete, bringing new opportunities and new demands beyond the playing field. Defining what the Pitt student-athlete experience looks like in this era is not just a starting point for this pillar. It is the foundation everything else is built on. We will provide every Pitt student-athlete with a transformative, holistic experience that prepares them to excel in competition, in the classroom and in life. PILLAR I Student-Athlete Experience Committee Jen Tuscano | Executive Associate Athletic Director, Internal Operations, SWA | Co-Chair Katie Stumpp | Associate Athletic Director, Administration | Co-Chair Chelsea Cameron | Learning Specialist / Academic Coordinator Kylee Carrigan | Assistant Athletic Director, Human Resources Trevor Fontan | Assistant Athletic Director, Fan Experience Katie Kasprzak | Director, Swimming & Diving Kiera Molloy | Director, Student-Athlete Mental Health Therese Pitman | Director, Student-Athlete Development Matt Schmidt | Assistant Athletic Director, Pitt Sports Camps Tilly Sheets | Associate Director, Academic Support Services Collin Stoecker | Associate Athletic Director, Student Athlete Support Services Molly Trott | Athletic Trainer Sheila Velez Martinez | Faculty Athletics Representative 6Objective 1: Define and Elevate the Pitt Student-Athlete Experience Initiatives Establish a clear, shared definition of the Pitt student-athlete experience in the new era of college athletics Refresh and deploy our department-wide student-athlete experience assessment tool Ensure all programs are well represented in assessment data by increasing student-athlete participation Leverage experience data to identify gaps and drive investment decisions leading to consistent improvement Share findings to inform culture and support strategies Objective 2: Prioritize the Personal Growth and Well-Being of Every Student-Athlete Initiatives Build an integrated support network around our student- athletes Provide every student-athlete with access to, and awareness of, mental health resources and support Enhance student-athletes’ understanding of NIL and personal branding through dedicated programming Expand student-athlete involvement in civic engagement and community service Foster connection and belonging among our student-athletes through intentional programming and shared experiences Objective 3: Champion Academic Achievement Initiatives Sustain a high standard of academic performance across our student-athletes Tailor academic support services to each student-athlete’s individual needs Recognize and celebrate student-athlete academic excellence through dedicated recognition programs and events Graduate every student-athlete who exhausts their eligibility at Pitt Objective 4: Prepare Every Student-Athlete for Life After Sport Initiatives Leverage the Pitt alumni and professional network to create meaningful mentorship opportunities for every student- athlete Deliver comprehensive financial education to every student- athlete Provide sustained engagement with a dedicated Cathy & John Pelusi Life Skills staff member to every student-athlete throughout the year Position every student-athlete for a successful next step upon graduation 7Competitive Excellence Football and men’s basketball are the engines that drive our department, and their success creates the foundation that elevates everything we do. Driven by the same grit and relentlessness that has always defined the city we call home, we will navigate the new era of college athletics by investing strategically in our student-athletes and coaches, developing the talent that wins championships and embracing a modern approach to team-building that positions each program to compete at its highest level. We will cultivate a championship culture that elevates Pitt Athletics in the ACC and nationally. PILLAR II Competitive Excellence Committee Brant Ust | Senior Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating Officer | Co-Chair Dustin Gray | Deputy Athletic Director, Front Office & NIL Strategy | Co-Chair Pat Bostick | Senior Associate Athletic Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships Bri Fields | Assistant Athletic Director, Business and Finance Dan Fisher | Head Coach, Volleyball Gunnar Geyer | Academic Counselor Matt Iannazzo | Assistant Athletic Director, Major Gifts Chris LaSala | Associate Athletic Director, Football Administration Brenna MacDonald | Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning Zach Makosey | Director, Revenue Share & NIL Operations Winter Steele | Director, Athletics Creative Video 8Objective 1: Pursue Championships and Continuous Improvement Across Every Program Initiatives Position Pitt Football among the top tier of the ACC, consistently in contention for conference championships and College Football Playoff selection Position Pitt Men’s Basketball among the top tier of the ACC, consistently qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and competing for advancement beyond the first weekend Maintain Pitt Volleyball among the top programs in the country, consistently competing for ACC Championships and in contention for a national championship Strengthen all our sport programs, improving our ACC standing and increasing postseason appearances Objective 2: Refine our Strategic Approach to Talent Retention and Acquisition Initiatives Build a coach and sport-specific staff retention and hiring strategy aligned with the specific needs of each program Continually evaluate our front office model to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving landscape Strengthen and standardize our timelines, policies and processes for revenue sharing and NIL engagement across every participating program Increase program adoption of roster construction and management data and analytics tools while continuing to advance our capabilities and insights Create a centralized resource hub to support programs in recruiting and retaining student-athletes Leverage data and insights from past student-athlete success to inform how we identify and recruit future talent Objective 3: Prioritize Talent Development as a Key Driver of Athletic Success Initiatives Identify and apply key performance metrics to strengthen how we develop our student-athletes Establish a sport psychology unit and integrate it with our sports performance team Ensure every program benefits from an aligned, collaborative approach to athlete development Expand professional development opportunities for coaches and sport-specific staff 9Next >