GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bay Athletics announces the IGNITE Phoenix Basketball initiative and the 1969 Society to transform Green Bay men's basketball. This initiative, part of the University-wide Ignite the Future campaign, aims to elevate the profile and status of Phoenix basketball to a position of strength in the mid-major Division I landscape. IGNITE Phoenix Men's Basketball will provide an immediate infusion of resources into the program with a focus on coach and student-athlete recruitment and retention.
Green Bay Athletics invites fans, friends, business leaders, and alumni of this university to support IGNITE Phoenix Men's Basketball with five-year (2023-2028) pledges to the UWGB Foundation Men's Basketball Fund (100% tax deductible) to transform and elevate Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball.
Green Bay Athletics has identified three key areas that are critical to the long-term and sustainable success of the future of Phoenix basketball. IGNITE Phoenix men's basketball funds will go to:
- Leadership/Coaching – Attraction and retention of top coaching talent.
- Student-athlete experience – Provide a top-notch student-athlete experience through nutrition, technology, strength, sports medicine, and academic bonus money (Alston money).
- Brand elevation - Celebrate the past to ignite the future by elevating the Green Bay brand throughout Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. Tell the story of Phoenix men's basketball through updated branding and graphics throughout the Kress Events Center.
An emphasis must also be placed on
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Green Bay Athletics will be dedicated to showcasing opportunities to expand student-athletes brand – connecting talent with the best businesses in the region and sharing awareness of the Fly with the Phoenix Collective, a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing NIL opportunities to Phoenix student-athletes.
UW-Green Bay is the fastest-growing institution in Wisconsin outside of UW-Madison, approaching 10,000 students with plans to get to 15,000 in the near future. UWGB's Division I athletics status is a key driver to help elevate and transform the institution to reach its full potential. Athletics is at the forefront of the university, and men's basketball is a flagship program of the Green Bay Athletics department. Green Bay is Titletown, and Green Bay Basketball should be a shining light for this region as one of the best mid-major basketball programs in the country.
1969 Society
In honor of the first year of Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball, the 1969 Society will be the exclusive inner circle of Phoenix basketball. This group will serve as the foundation of the transformation of Phoenix basketball.
- Supporters that commit to five-year pledges of at least $15k ($3k annually) will be inaugural members of the 1969 Society. 1969 Society members will receive:
- Exclusive access to coaches/team, special society events, practices, and more.
- Name recognition in the main concourse of Kress Events Center.
- Exclusive access to team news prior to the release to the general public.
If you'd like to support, there are giving options for:
MEN'S BASKETBALL ALUMNI
-OR-
GREEN BAY COMMUNITY
Pledges can be made via cash, check, or credit card – 100% tax-deductible to the UWGB Foundation Men's Basketball Fund. Commitments can be made in a variety of ways, including flexible payment plan options. For more information or to complete your pledge form, contact Alan Savage, Associate AD at savagea@uwgb.edu or 920-621-6906, or give securely online here (alumni)(community).
About Green Bay Men's Basketball – A Tradition of Excellence
In its 53rd year, Green Bay Basketball has a rich tradition and history that includes over 920 wins, five NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances, and four conference championships. Before the transition to Division I in 1981-82, Green Bay appeared in six NCAA Division II Tournaments, including three final four appearances from 1977-1981.
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