Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MTSU Athletics announces record fundraising year
7/15/2022 11:07:00 AM | BRAA
Build Blue Now Campaign spurs 300 percent growth year-over-year
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — MTSU Athletics raised a record $8.9 million in cash gifts and saw a 300 percent year-over-year growth during the 2022 fiscal year, directly jumpstarting a plethora of facility projects with groundbreakings scheduled within the next year, the athletic department and the Blue Raider Athletic Association announced on Friday.
Led by the tremendous success of the Build Blue campaign, it was the largest fundraising year ever for the department, eclipsing the $3.5 million raised in 2011.
"The support from our loyal and growing fan base has put MTSU Athletics in position for continued and increasing success," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "We appreciate our fans stepping up and investing in the facilities and programs that will benefit our young people and this community. Our Blue Raider Athletic Association staff and our coaches have built great relationships within Murfreesboro and across the nation, creating energy that has resulted in this outstanding momentum, especially with our scheduled facility improvements."
With the investment from Blue Raider supporters that has raised over $15.3 million in donor cash, donor pledges, and additional funds within the Build Blue campaign, tentative groundbreaking for the new on-campus outdoor tennis complex is scheduled for August, while groundbreaking for the $66 million Student Athlete Performance Center is currently scheduled for December.
"This is a great achievement for our Blue Raider athletic program and our fans!" said MTSU President Dr. Sidney A. McPhee. "The success of our NCAA Division I program depends, in large part, on the support and investments from our fans and supporters. These investments ensure that our programs continue to grow and that our student-athletes have access to the resources necessary to compete for championships at the conference and national levels."
These fundraising milestones come on the heels of one of the most successful seasons in Blue Raider history, highlighted by the Athletic Department's performance in the final 2021-22 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. MTSU ranked 98th out of 358 Division I programs with 189.50 total points, the best mark in Conference USA.
It marked the fourth time in the last seven years the Blue Raiders have finished in the Top 100 of the Learfield Cup standings and the sixth time in school history.
The Blue Raiders made postseason play in football, men's and women's cross country, men's basketball, women's basketball, and men's tennis during the 2021-22 season. The men's tennis team and women's outdoor track & field team both finished the season ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The football, men's basketball and women's basketball programs combined to post an 8-2 record in the postseason with the basketball programs combining to make MTSU the only school in the nation to finish the regular season unbeaten at home on the hardwood.
In addition to finishing atop all C-USA schools in the Learfield Cup rankings, Middle Tennessee finished ahead of schools such as Houston, Boston College, South Florida, Boise State, and Cincinnati.
"Our continued success on the field in 2021-22 could not have been done without the investment of Blue Raiders across the country," Massaro said. "With their investment in not only our current student athletes, but future Blue Raiders through the Build Blue campaign, MTSU Athletics is set for transformational improvements in our facilities as soon as this summer. We cannot thank our fans enough for their commitment to our student athletes' success."
Donors have a variety of ways they can support MTSU Athletics through Annual Giving and Legacy Giving, including the Champions Annual Fund. All individuals that donate to any area of the Blue Raider Athletic Association at the $100 level or higher are considered members of the BRAA. Complete details of donor options can be found in the BRAA Giving Guide.
Individuals wishing to join the BRAA and impact the student-athlete experience can contact the BRAA offices for additional information at (615) 898-2210 or BRAA@mtsu.edu.
Led by the tremendous success of the Build Blue campaign, it was the largest fundraising year ever for the department, eclipsing the $3.5 million raised in 2011.
"The support from our loyal and growing fan base has put MTSU Athletics in position for continued and increasing success," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "We appreciate our fans stepping up and investing in the facilities and programs that will benefit our young people and this community. Our Blue Raider Athletic Association staff and our coaches have built great relationships within Murfreesboro and across the nation, creating energy that has resulted in this outstanding momentum, especially with our scheduled facility improvements."
With the investment from Blue Raider supporters that has raised over $15.3 million in donor cash, donor pledges, and additional funds within the Build Blue campaign, tentative groundbreaking for the new on-campus outdoor tennis complex is scheduled for August, while groundbreaking for the $66 million Student Athlete Performance Center is currently scheduled for December.
"This is a great achievement for our Blue Raider athletic program and our fans!" said MTSU President Dr. Sidney A. McPhee. "The success of our NCAA Division I program depends, in large part, on the support and investments from our fans and supporters. These investments ensure that our programs continue to grow and that our student-athletes have access to the resources necessary to compete for championships at the conference and national levels."
These fundraising milestones come on the heels of one of the most successful seasons in Blue Raider history, highlighted by the Athletic Department's performance in the final 2021-22 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. MTSU ranked 98th out of 358 Division I programs with 189.50 total points, the best mark in Conference USA.
It marked the fourth time in the last seven years the Blue Raiders have finished in the Top 100 of the Learfield Cup standings and the sixth time in school history.
The Blue Raiders made postseason play in football, men's and women's cross country, men's basketball, women's basketball, and men's tennis during the 2021-22 season. The men's tennis team and women's outdoor track & field team both finished the season ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The football, men's basketball and women's basketball programs combined to post an 8-2 record in the postseason with the basketball programs combining to make MTSU the only school in the nation to finish the regular season unbeaten at home on the hardwood.
In addition to finishing atop all C-USA schools in the Learfield Cup rankings, Middle Tennessee finished ahead of schools such as Houston, Boston College, South Florida, Boise State, and Cincinnati.
"Our continued success on the field in 2021-22 could not have been done without the investment of Blue Raiders across the country," Massaro said. "With their investment in not only our current student athletes, but future Blue Raiders through the Build Blue campaign, MTSU Athletics is set for transformational improvements in our facilities as soon as this summer. We cannot thank our fans enough for their commitment to our student athletes' success."
Donors have a variety of ways they can support MTSU Athletics through Annual Giving and Legacy Giving, including the Champions Annual Fund. All individuals that donate to any area of the Blue Raider Athletic Association at the $100 level or higher are considered members of the BRAA. Complete details of donor options can be found in the BRAA Giving Guide.
Individuals wishing to join the BRAA and impact the student-athlete experience can contact the BRAA offices for additional information at (615) 898-2210 or BRAA@mtsu.edu.
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