RUSTON – Louisiana Tech Athletics is pleased to introduce Louisiana Tech Sports Performance Institute (LTSPI). Designed to impact the entire Bulldog Nation while generating revenue in ways previously not realized in college athletics. Benefiting Louisiana Tech Athletics and housed within the Louisiana Tech Foundation, LTSPI will become a preeminent "Sports Tech & Research Hub" and will disseminate best practices to sports organizations throughout the region and nationally. Different from existing collegiate sports institutes housed within academic departments, the LTSPI will engage with donors and participate in academic research opportunities in which the athletic department has a competitive interest.
 
"Collegiate athletics are a vital part of the university experience. Student-athletes compete at the next level while developing as individuals for life and career success and that competition cultivates enthusiasm in students, alumni, and fans alike," President Jim Henderson said. "LTSPI is a catalyst to make collegiate athletics more sustainable for Louisiana Tech and beyond."  
 
A cross-campus initiative, LTSPI will integrate with Louisiana Tech University's research and scholarship to realize innovation in every area of athletics.
 
Louisiana Tech Foundation CEO, Davy Norris, believes, "Innovative and entrepreneurial leadership will be the key to excellence and success in the dynamic environment of college athletics, and LTSPI is a prime example." Davy continued, "This new initiative has the potential to drive technology innovations in sports performance, create new learning and research opportunities for students and faculty, enhance recruiting and development of student athletes, and generate new revenue capacity to support our athletics enterprise.
 
By adding new revenue streams and a strategic approach to upcoming revenue sharing legislation, Louisiana Tech Athletics will design a sustainable funding model that does not live solely on the backs of donors or ticket holders. 
 
Vice President and Director of Athletics, Ryan Ivey shared, "We are extremely excited to begin what we believe will be a transformative initiative for the athletics department.  LTSPI is designed to reach across campus to integrate the athletics and academics units through research and innovation.  With the immense changes in the intercollegiate athletics landscape, one of the goals of LTSPI is to add additional revenue to the department, along with maintaining our commitment to investing and engaging in our community."
 
The LTSPI's Functions:

• Bulldog Venture Fund: A revenue generating tool unlike any other in college athletics, the Bulldog Venture Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate and incubate innovation on campus that will benefit the athletic department. Merging the benefits of traditional venture capital firms with the benefits of the Louisiana Tech Foundation allows for donor access to technology right here on campus. Donations to the LTAC will allow the athletic department to source and develop technology while earning donors priority points and LTAC benefits. Sports Tech R&D has already been sourced and members of the Bulldog Venture Fund have a front row seat and first rights to participate as we begin to recruit entrepreneurs to participate in our program.
• Grant Writing: When sponsored research and programming opportunities are within the athletic department scope, LTSPI will act as a co-sponsor to enhance the University's competitive position and assist in additional research dollars being secured by departments across campus.
• Coaching Education Portal: Within the Coaching Education Portal (CEP), visitors will find best practices organized by sport or administrative function. Visitors are welcome to download these documents to use with their teams or coaching staff to help them perform at the highest level. Materials will be added throughout the year.
• Youth Leadership Institute: Led by Ed Jackson, Associate A.D. for Community Outreach and former leader of student-athlete engagement, the Youth Leadership Institute will provide character growth, coaching education, and life skills development. To realize this vision, the Institute will host pre-game leadership tailgates before home football games and women and men's basketball games.
• Advance & Advocate for On-Campus Research: LTSPI will highlight and aggregate on-campus sports-and-performance-related research. Dr. David Szymanski will serve as the Institute's director of research. With an already robust sports research portfolio, he will be charged with growing sports-related research and identifying opportunities that will benefit both athletics and researchers alike.

Ryan continued, "LTSPI is an innovative approach to utilizing and realizing some extraordinary efforts already underway on campus and within the athletics department, and we look forward to great collaboration."
 
Those donors wishing to support the LTSPI's efforts may reach out to the Louisiana Tech Foundation's Championship Resources team at (318) 255-7950 or by email at wally@latechalumni.org.
 
To learn more about the Louisiana Tech Sports Performance Institute, please visit www.LATechSportScience.com.