A lot can happen in a six-month span. That’s how long it has been since The News sat down with Murray State Director of Athletics Nico Yantko.
The Murray State women’s basketball team just won their first conference championship in 15 years, the men’s basketball team was entering a new era by hiring Ryan Miller to be a foundational piece in what the University hopes to be a return to form in men’s basketball and the baseball team was in the middle of what became the greatest athletic achievement in school history: a trip to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha.
“We’ve got a lot of great activation going on from a brand exposure perspective,” Yantko said.
As Racer Athletics enters its fourth year as members of the Missouri Valley Conference, it seems like they’ve finally got a foothold and aren’t looking to slow down.
“We didn’t move to the Missouri Valley Conference just to be idle and to just hold a place,” Yantko said. “We came here to win.”
Upon taking over as director of athletics, Yantko announced the “The Race is On” strategic plan. This three-year plan was meant to help Murray State Athletics in their transition to the MVC. It was the first athletics-specific strategy plan in school history.
The plan had four objectives: advance the brand of Murray State Athletics, build a strong Murray State community and region, compete for and win championships and develop student-athletes through strategic programming that will serve them from recruitment through retirement.
Yantko said he feels that those four objectives were achieved.
“When we start looking at what we’ve done and accomplished with however (many) millions of dollars of facility upgrades, staffing upgrades, (and) starting to position our sport programs to compete for championships,” he said. “Look at last year, (we) had seven championships on the year if you include the Super Regional championship (for baseball). That’s more than our school’s history that we’ve done in a year in athletics.
“We’re just getting started and it’s my job to make sure that we not only have peaks and valleys. We need to make sure we’re sustaining success.”
Murray State Athletics announced that “The Race is On” plan closed effective Oct. 1, and they’re working on preparing its next three-year plan titled “Racing Towards Excellence,” with the full plan slated to be announced in the coming months, according to a press release on GoRacers.com.
“We’re not just a marketing vehicle for the University,” Yantko said. “We’re the gateway to the community and region.”
Yantko said this new strategic plan will be focused on aspirational goals, not just as an athletic department, but for each individual sport.
“In this new reality, you get to pick and choose who you want to be,” Yantko said. “With revenue share, we have a cap of $20.5 million. Murray State is not participating at that level, but how do I look at (all of the sport programs) and say, ‘Okay, where do we want to go and how do we make sure those dollars are there?’ I think the big part of this is working alongside our campus and key stakeholders on this true race towards excellence and our vision for excellence.”
A big part of any athletics department is fundraising, and Murray State’s is no different. Last year, Murray State raised $21.5 million. That’s the largest one-year total in school history. Yantko said while fundraising is an important characteristic and skill set, they can’t just look at the dollar amount. They have to look at the impact that money has and communicate that impact.
“We want to show how (the money is) being put to work. From the eight-figure renovation to the arena to the seven-figure renovations going on at baseball,” Yantko said. “We view these donations as investments. I want these donors, partners and investors to see that their money’s not just coming in to buy hoodies and pizza. It’s going into something that’s going to help us do two things: recruit and create other revenue opportunities.”
On Aug. 29, Murray State Athletics announced a $1 million donation from the estate of Jim and Sue Cash. That gift secured the naming rights for the upcoming clubhouse upgrade for Racer baseball.
Yantko discussed that upgrade, as well as other upgrades coming to Johnny Reagan Field. He mentioned significant drainage work in the outfield, new infield upgrades, a new scoreboard and a new videoboard, which Yantko said will be one of only three across MVC schools, but “it’ll be one of the largest in the mid-major space.
“We’re really excited (these) activations, not only from a gameday experience, but also other community activations,” Yantko said. “We’re going to continue to clean the berm as we really develop a longer-term plan of what the fan experience will be.”
Movie nights on the new aforementioned scoreboard is one of the ideas Yantko mentioned to help drive foot traffic to campus.
Yantko also said that baseball games will continue to be free, even when the University hosts the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament in May. He also talked about how excited people are about hosting that event, but doesn’t think people understand how big this is for the community as a whole.
“When you talk about how excited people are, I don’t think they’re quantifying it yet,” Yantko said. “The direct and indirect impact of dollars (that) are going to flow through here (and) exposure for the University, nonetheless. You’re bringing teams that are going to be staying everywhere from the lake and Paducah, down to Paris, Tennessee. This is going to impact our region with an economic hit that’s going to be amazing for us.”
Looking at the fall sports that are in full swing, Yantko said he has been excited about where each team is at, as well as giving praise to how the staff of each team has worked.
“If you look at our fall sports, they’re all very, very young rosters,” Yantko said. “I think that’s what’s really exciting about where we’re going with these coaches. Having a plan to where they’re evaluating and getting in freshmen and developing talent, or hitting the portal the right way, I really commend those coaches for what they’re doing and they’re doing a good job. We’re in a position where we’re really starting to move in the right direction with all of these programs and I think that’s really fun as we continue to put our best foot forward.”
As a former student-athlete at Murray State, Yantko shared his love for Homecoming and what he loves most about it.
“I can’t boil it down to one thing. It’s one of the most magical times of the year around here and it truly embodies everything that makes this ‘the finest place we know,’” Yantko said. “Being the former starting quarterback, you reminisce a little bit, you get to see your former teammates but then beyond that now being the AD, a dad and a husband, I get to take my kids to the parade and to be able to experience that and take part in that with them, at a place that’s so special to me personally, (and) is now so special to our family. There’s really nothing like Homecoming and I really look forward to it.”
While Homecoming is always a special time at Murray State, it just so happens to be the last thing between Racer Nation and a new basketball season. Yantko expressed his excitement, not only for the upcoming seasons, but also complimented Racer Nation.
“I always give compliments to Racer Nation, but when you look (at this) basketball season, we’ve sold out the courtside seats. We added nearly 30 new seats, sold more courtside than ever before and now they’re sold out,” Yantko said. “On top of that, we hit a 92% renewal rate (for season tickets), which is the highest we’ve had since 2022. I’m excited from a fan base perspective.”
Yantko also talked about the women’s basketball team’s quest for back-to-back MVC titles.
“I think (head coach Rechelle Turner) really assembled a tremendous roster of good players, good kids and good student-athletes,” Yantko said. “You’ve got two big pieces that have been left in Kaitlyn (Young), who’s now back as an assistant coach for us after having a great season overseas in Australia, and Ava (Learn). You’re losing two key pieces. She’s got a lot of great new pieces coming in. I’m excited for Rechelle.”
Yantko then mentioned the men’s team, which enters the year with a whole new roster from top to bottom, led by his newest coaching hire, Ryan Miller.
“When you look at the men’s side, Ryan in his first year, coming in and assembling what I think is a well put together and well structured roster,” Yantko said. “We’ve got depth, we’ve got size and no doubt we can shoot it. I think we’ve got a couple of alpha dogs in that locker room right now. That’s the cool piece about how intentional and surgical he is about this. From a competitor’s perspective, I’ve been around very few people who operate like him.”
Yantko had some final thoughts to add about giving thanks to everyone involved in helping Murray State Athletics continue to build toward the future.
“Any time we talk to Racer Nation, we start with gratitude. We’re always appreciative of their willingness to partner with us, their passion is second to none,” Yantko said. “Our investors are doing a tremendous job of elevating our resources. Our president, Dr. Patterson. I can’t compliment him enough for what he’s doing. Our Board of Regents as well. I think when you look ahead, we say it all the time, the best is yet to come and I really believe this. For us, excellence is the standard and we’re going to continue to be dialed in on that focus and vision.”
