BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ? The Ohio Valley Conference Board of Presidents have announced the approval of a basketball enrichment plan for the Conference.
The plan, which will go into effect beginning in the 2009-10 season, is meant to enrich basketball in the Conference through several key elements. Those elements include:
· Reducing the number of guarantee games to a maximum of two per institution per season
· Permitting teams to play as many non-Division I games as they play guarantee games
· Play a minimum of 50 percent of non-conference games at home (neutral site games do not count in that computation)
“This plan is the culmination of numerous conversations between our administrative groups,” said Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. “I applaud our membership for their willingness to commit to systemic changes that should enhance our opportunity to succeed. This shows that the OVC membership is not satisfied with the status quo. The basketball enrichment plan is part of a series of strategic decisions intended to enhance the Conference’s basketball programs.”
Final decisions on whether institutions are in compliance will be made by the Commissioner. Compliance with the enrichment plan will be tied to the league’s revenue-sharing program.
“The basketball enrichment plan is the next step our conference needs to position itself nationally,” said Dave Loos, Austin Peay Director of Athletics and head men’s basketball coach. “I wholeheartedly support this effort to enhance our chances for success on the basketball court. It is great to see everyone in the league on the same page and ready to do what it takes to move forward.”
“I fully support the basketball enrichment plan approved by the Board of Presidents,” said Allen Ward, Murray State Director of Athletics. “Strengthening OVC basketball and improving its standing among Division I conferences is critically important to the league and its members. The intended results will take time to fully realize, but I am confident the key elements in the plan will pay dividends.”
"Successful basketball programs that are nationally recognized for winning and excellence are critical to the Ohio Valley Conference and our member institutions,” said Mark Wilson, Director of Athletics at Tennessee Technological University. “This basketball enrichment plan illustrates the commitment that each OVC institution is making to build winning programs. It also provides an important scheduling framework for the continued growth and future national success of OVC basketball."
This is the second major basketball enhancement measure passed by the Board of Presidents in the past two months. In January the board approved a Basketball Matching Fund that would enable member institutions to receive up to $6,500 for both its men’s and women’s basketball programs if the monies are matched. That would provide a total of $13,000 for each program to be used on such items as recruiting, home game guarantees, television and special projects. The one-time request for those monies can be made in either the 2008-09 or 2009-10.