HATTIESBURG — In conjunction with the school’s first year in the Sun Belt Conference, Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced today the completion of a comprehensive strategic plan that will run through the end of 2025. The strategic plan includes a bold vision for the future of Golden Eagle athletics comprised of 25 strategic initiatives to be completed before the end of the 2025 calendar year.

“Over the next few years, this strategic plan will serve as our road map as we transition to the Sun Belt and look to become one of the best athletic departments within the conference and across the country,” said McClain.

The 25 strategic initiatives range across five categories, demonstrating the department’s commitment to the following areas:
* Competitive Excellence
* Revenue Generation/Sustainable Budget Growth
* Elite Student-Athlete Experience
* Strategic Facility Enhancements
* Maximizing our Footprint

The strategic plan uses five factors as guiding elements for future growth:
        * Where We Are
With the emergence of student-athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, the transfer portal navigation,
NCAA Government reform, and continued conference realignment, Southern Miss Athletics acknowledges the challenges and         opportunities of operating a successful Division I athletics department.

        * What We Believe
1) The best days of Southern Miss Athletics are ahead of us
2) There is no substitute for leadership alignment
3) That all the tools we need to be successful already exist within the Southern Miss family
4) Everyone has a role to play
5) That if we execute what we can control, at a high level, then success will take care of itself

* Where We Have Been
Our foundation of success is rooted in the mindset of strength, stability, consistency, and toughness.

        * Where We Are Going
To The Top! Our focus is to continue to enhance the profile and success of The University of Southern Mississippi and
its Department of Athletics.

* What We Are Asking of You       
Hold us accountable in keeping to these initiatives, while continuing to support our student-athletes through your attendance
at games, monetary gifts, and encouragement through social media and in the community.

As the 17-sport program heads to the Sun Belt, the Golden Eagles are fresh off divisional title in women’s soccer, a second-straight conference women’s indoor track and field championship and a regular-season conference title and Super Regional berth for the baseball program over the last academic year.

Southern Miss, which has almost 400 student-athletes, fields the sports of baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, along with indoor and outdoor track and field for men, as well as basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, along with volleyball for women.

The #ToTheTop25 Strategic Plan can be viewed by clicking here (PDF).