Dear Bluejays,
I wanted to open this month's newsletter by sharing a high-level look at the funding model Creighton Athletics is building to support and sustain a men's basketball program capable of being the best in the BIG EAST.
It takes an entire community. That community includes a thriving university, a passionate and generous fan and donor base, an engaged student body, and business partners who believe in our mission. They see how our reach can help grow their businesses, support their workforce, and positively impact the communities we all call home.
Because of this collective support, Creighton has made a remarkable transition—from a mid-major conference to becoming one of the winningest programs in the reconfigured BIG EAST. We have made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and are one of only four programs nationally to win at least one game in each of those tournaments.
This is a stretch we are extremely proud of—and one we fully expect to continue. While this season hasn't unfolded exactly as we hoped, there is still plenty of basketball left to play. We have a competitive group that continues to fight every night, starting with another great opportunity this evening at Georgetown.
We are a bit unique, in many ways, in our ability to fund a highly successful program. Many of our competitors outside the BIG EAST have significantly larger media rights deals (mainly driven by football viewership) and large conference distributions that can make upwards of 40% of their departments' revenues. Some of these institutions also receive state funding and student fees from large school enrollments.
At Creighton, our model is different. More than 40% of our basketball revenue (excluding university contributions) comes from ticket sales and Jaybacker fees. With the introduction of internal revenue sharing for student-athletes, an additional 25% of basketball revenue has come from private contributions. In total, roughly 75% of our non-university basketball revenue comes from our passionate, loyal, and generous fans and donors.
That level of support is extraordinary—and something we don't take for granted. Protecting this investment, while continuing to grow new revenue streams, is essential to achieving our goal of competing for BIG EAST championships year after year.
To ensure we continue to evolve and compete at the highest level, here are a few key priorities:
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- Maintain our season-ticket base
With more than 15,000 season ticket holders, this is the lifeblood of our program and a major differentiator nationally. Filling the building—through both season and single-game tickets—remains critical.
- Grow our donor population
Expanding the number of men's basketball supporters allows us to spread generosity more broadly and keep pace with the increasing resources needed to attract and retain outstanding coaches and student-athletes.
- Increase corporate sponsorship and other revenues
Sponsorship sales currently represent less than 10% of our total revenue, leaving significant room for growth. Our goal is to increase this to approximately 15% in the near future. We have recently added staff to focus on these efforts and will continue exploring creative new revenue opportunities.
- Be a strong university partner
A sustainable men's basketball program depends on a healthy, thriving university. Positive enrollment trends, academic excellence, and continued investment in campus infrastructure are all vital to our long-term success.
- Continue NCAA Tournament participation
Earning bids—and advancing—in the NCAA Tournament is critical. It enhances national exposure, strengthens the BIG EAST, and provides meaningful financial rewards for both the conference and its member institutions. The more we play and win in March, the more resources we can reinvest back into the program.
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Thank you for being an essential part of what makes Creighton Basketball special. Together, we will continue to build a program that makes us all proud.
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A High-Energy Stretch for Bluejay Athletics
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Our busiest stretch of the year is here, with more than half of our teams competing as winter and spring seasons converge.
Basketball and indoor track and field are in the home stretch, and men's and women's tennis opened spring competition late last month. Baseball, softball, and men's and women's golf will head to warmer climates to begin their seasons. With limited outdoor practice opportunities in Omaha's winter weather, it's especially important for these teams to quickly shake off the rust.
This time of year is both enjoyable and demanding for our administrative and support staff, who are balancing responsibilities across multiple teams. I want to sincerely thank our entire team for their unwavering dedication to our student-athletes—their efforts are critical to our success and to providing a rewarding athletic experience.
As competition intensifies across all programs, the energy around Creighton Athletics continues to build. Below are more highlights and updates from teams and departments as we move into this exciting time of year.
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Fall Semester Academic Highlights
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Our student-athletes delivered outstanding academic results during the fall semester. All 18 teams—and an impressive 83% of our student-athletes—earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Even more notably, the cumulative GPA for our entire student-athlete population was an exceptional 3.47.
I want to sincerely thank our student-athletes for their commitment in the classroom and recognize our Academic Services staff for the vital role they play in challenging, supporting, and guiding them throughout their academic journeys.
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- Lisa Chipps, Sr. Associate AD for Academic Services
- Meg Macy, Assistant Director of Academic Services
- Haley Rusk, Assistant Director of Academic Services
- John Huebscher, Academic Advisor
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I would also like to offer special recognition to our highest-performing teams during the semester. The women's tennis team led the way with a 3.64 GPA, followed closely by the women's golf team, which posted an outstanding 3.61 GPA.
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NCAA Legislative Headlines
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There have been several recent rule changes within the last month resulting from recent approvals by the NCAA Division I Cabinet and the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. A short summary of the changes that will impact Creighton the most is below:
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Men's and Women's Basketball Transfer Windows: The transfer portal windows will now open for a 15-day period the day after each sport's national championship game. Previously, the window was a 30-day period that began after the second round of both NCAA tournaments. One goal of changing the portal window start time is to limit distractions for coaches and student-athletes competing in the NCAA tournament.
If a head coach leaves, a 15-day window opens for student-athletes five days after the new coach is hired. This period may not start prior to the opening of the new transfer portal window.
Commercial Trademarks or Logos on Equipment, Uniforms, and Apparel: Effective August 1, 2026, it is permitted to add two additional commercial or nonprofit trademarks or logos to student-athletes' uniforms or apparel and one additional logo to equipment during non-NCAA championship competitions. Another logo may be added to uniforms or apparel during conference championship competition.
Creighton is in the process of identifying a logo sponsor or sponsors for the 2026-2027 season.
Division I Expands Men's and Women's Basketball Funds: Effective immediately, DI members approved expanding the men's and women's basketball performance funds to financially reward teams beyond the Final Four. Each basketball performance fund will now include three total units: one for each team that reaches and plays in the championship game, and one for the national champion. Prior to this vote, units were awarded only through the Final Four.
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Sports Performance Center Named "The Bill"
in Honor of the late Bill Scott
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We are deeply grateful to the family of Bill and Ruth Scott for their generous leadership gift in support of our new 50,000-square-foot athletic facility. This $65 million project—formerly known as the Sports Performance Center—will be named "The Bill" in honor of the late Bill Scott, a longtime donor and valued friend of the University, the city, and the state.
"The Bill" will serve as an important investment in the success and well-being of our student-athletes. The facility will include approximately 10,000 square feet of modern strength and conditioning space, an outdoor training area, a student-athlete dining hall, an academic center, and dedicated areas for sports medicine and sport psychology services. These resources will support the comprehensive development of our student-athletes and enhance our ability to compete at a high level.
This facility will significantly improve the student-athlete experience while honoring Bill Scott's lasting commitment to our University and athletic programs. Read more.
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Creighton Baseball First Pitch Dinner
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The baseball team held its annual First Pitch Dinner on Friday, January 30th, as they continue to prepare for the 2026 season, the inaugural season for head coach Mark Kingston. CU baseball fans were eager for a glimpse of what's ahead, and over 200 attendees had the opportunity to meet the players and hear from Coach Kingston, along with guest speakers Kyle Peterson and Jim Hendry. Mark, Jim, and Kyle spoke about Creighton and college baseball, the Men's College World Series, chasing the major league baseball dream, and how Creighton baseball prepares student-athletes for life beyond the field.
After earning both the regular season and BIG EAST Tournament Championships last season, Creighton Baseball was picked to finish second in the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll. Two Bluejays, junior Connor Capece and sophomore Wilson Magers, earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. The team opens its season with a 3-game series at Saint Mary's February 13-15.
Click here for baseball season ticket information.
Support the Jays through the newly-formed Dugout Club.
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Thank you for your continued commitment to Creighton Athletics. Your support—whether through attendance, engagement, philanthropy, or advocacy—directly impacts the experience and success of our student-athletes and the strength of our programs. As we navigate one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year, we are energized by the momentum across our department and grateful for the community that makes it all possible. We look forward to the months ahead and to continuing to build on this progress together.
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