CHICAGO (June 25, 2020) – Collegiate Consulting has recently completed a sport sponsorship study for Chicago State University. The institution, a member of the Western Athletic Conference since 2013, is exploring the opportunity to start a men’s soccer program.
Currently, 12 institutions play men’s soccer in the WAC, but CSU Bakersfield (Big West) and Kansas City (Summit) will depart the WAC on June 30. The sports sponsorship study examined start-up costs, annual budget, financial aid, coaching staff and salaries, facilities and scheduling.
Collegiate Consulting projected an annual operating budget beginning at $110,000 with a three-person coaching staff at a starting base salary budget of $130,000. The Division I financial aid maximum for men’s soccer is 9.90 scholarships, with Collegiate Consulting recommended a staggered model that would make CSU fully-funded in 2025 at an approximate cost of $340,000.
A two-year ramp-up schedule was developed as a placeholder, but a formal timeline has not yet been developed for a potential start date. Chicago State currently offers 15 sports, including a women’s soccer program. The potential men’s soccer program would be CSU’s 8th men’s program.
About Collegiate Consulting: Collegiate Consulting is a comprehensive solutions-based consulting company focused exclusively on the collegiate marketplace. Featuring a team of experienced and proven individuals, Collegiate Consulting enables athletic departments and conferences to increase revenue, create efficiencies and maximize operations to succeed and prosper in a diverse climate. Collegiate Consulting was founded in 2005, and since its inception, has worked with over 575 institutions.