CHICAGO (Feb. 21, 2025) – The recent announcement Chicago State would launch the search for its head football coach and start its inaugural season in 2026 was supported by the Football Feasibility Study completed by Collegiate Consulting.
The initial study was completed in January 2022 and updated in April 2023. Collegiate Consulting provided a comprehensive comparison to the MEAC, NEC, OVC and Southland Conferences football programs. The 116-page report included an analysis for multiple women’s programs, including beach volleyball, bowling, field hockey, lacrosse, swimming & diving, and softball.
Collegiate Consulting projected year one expenses of $3.2 million, which included expenses for football and two women’s sports programs. Two million of the year one expenses were allocated for the football program. Collegiate Consulting projected year five expenses for the three programs of $5.2 million with football awarding sixty-three scholarships, operating expenses of approximately $925,000 and coaching salaries/benefits of $1.1 million. Collegiate Consulting also created an FCS non-scholarship pro-forma, which projected football expenses of $1.8 million.
The report projected seven new administrative positions across all departments to support the new programs and twelve new full-time coaches (Head & Assistants) and three part-time/GA coaches for the three programs. Collegiate Consulting recommended football play its home games at 4,000-seat Gately Stadium due to proximity to campus and projected rental expenses.
Collegiate Consulting has completed six football feasibility studies in the past 18 months across Division I, II, III and NAIA and past studies have helped West Florida, Stetson and Georgia State successfully launch their respective programs.