Nevada Football Eyes $50 Million Investment to Boost Program

Nevada‘s football program has outlined an ambitious plan to invest $50 million over the next decade in a bid to transform its fortunes. The strategy, unveiled at a recent summit with key boosters and stakeholders, aims to elevate the team, which is currently underperforming within the Mountain West Conference in terms of budgetary rankings.

The proposal is structured around three principal areas worthy of investment: Enhancing coaching salaries, improving operational needs, and developing name, image and likeness (NIL) budgets, amounting to $5 million annually over the next ten years.

First on the list are coaching salaries, with a planned increase of $1.5 million to $2 million per year. Coach Jeff Choate, who is currently among the lower earners within the Mountain West, will see a raise which will converge with assistant staff salaries. The aim is to foster consistency, a challenge the program faced under previous successful leadership.

Next, football operational needs are targeted for a boost, with an extra $1 million to $1.5 million allocated annually. These funds are expected to rectify budget allocations for team travel, equipment, and recruiting, areas where Nevada lags behind its conference peers.

A significant $2 million per year is earmarked for NIL and revenue sharing. Despite non-disclosure of current NIL budgets, insiders confirm Nevada stands weaker in NIL engagement for football compared to its basketball counterparts. This financial strategy intends to enhance athlete recruitment and retention, aligning the program closer to its FBS level counterparts that operate at a seven-figure budget.

Stephanie Rempe, Nevada’s athletic director, along with university leadership, has identified growth opportunities in philanthropy, sponsorships, ticket sales, and campus support as vital components to raising the designated $50 million. A significant contribution to this fund is anticipated from a $10 million Mountain West exit fee, and a $2 million donation has already been secured.

Furthermore, Nevada is considering constructing its long-planned indoor facility, a project emphasized by Coach Choate, who experienced similar facility advancements at Montana State. This move comes after a failed attempt to raise student fees for a Fieldhouse in 2013 and 2022. The proposed facility would serve not only football but also other collegiate sports and a range of student activities.

UNR President Brian Sandoval has thrown his support behind these developments, reflecting a strategic pivot towards enhancing the university’s athletic stature. Historical challenges, noted in former Coach Jay Norvell’s exit for Colorado State, cite financial constraints and lack of infrastructural commitment as primary concerns, elements this funding plan intends to address.

The success of these investments is considered crucial for Nevada, especially in light of its exclusion from previous conference expansions. Athletic director Rempe, backed by her experiences at leading institutions like LSU and Texas A&M, emphasizes the urgency of this initiative to prevent being left behind in the rapidly evolving landscape of collegiate sports.

This investment could pave the way for long-term upgrades, including redevelopments at Mackay Stadium, subject to fan interest and ticket sales bolstered by these advancements.