Gator Growl: Univ. of Florida Turning Profit From Athletics

Univ. Of Florida One Of Few Schools Whose Athletic Department Consistently Turns Profit

The Univ. of Florida (UF) is “one of the few schools to consistently turn a profit from its athletic program,” according to Jeff Ostrowski of the PALM BEACH POST. UF Senior Associate AD/Internal Affairs Greg McGarity said, “That is very unusual and unique in college athletics. A lot of athletic departments are a drag on the institution.” UF’s University Athletic Association (UAA) earned nearly $108M in the FY ending June 30, ranking second behind the $109.4M Ohio State Univ. accumulated. The Univ. of Texas ranked third with $105M. Ostrowski noted money comes from a “variety of sources, including ticket sales, TV contracts, booster donations, bowl revenue, merchandise sales and even greens fees” from a UAA-owned golf course, and the income from those sources “has been used to create some of the poshest sports facilities anywhere.” A $28M addition is being built at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that will include a 20,000-square-foot weight room. Also, the men’s and women’s basketball teams practice in a 6-year-old building with players-only gyms. Non-revenue sports have also benefited, as a $6M facility for women’s lacrosse is being built, and the softball team has its own ballpark. Meanwhile, there are “other signs of success,” as UF AD Jeremy Foley is the highest-paid AD in the country, earning $1.2M annually, and the UAA owns two planes that are used for, among other things, recruiting (PALM BEACH POST, 12/16).