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Ian McCaw Director of Athletics
2007-08 Baylor Athletics Annual Report
Ian McCaw was named Director of Athletics of Baylor's 18-sport, Big 12 intercollegiate athletics program Sept. 8, 2003. Under McCaw's leadership, the department has achieved unprecedented academic, athletics and administrative success. Since 2003, Baylor has enjoyed its most competitively successful period in the history of its intercollegiate athletics program. During that time, Baylor has captured two NCAA national team championships, 20 Big 12 conference championships and recorded its three highest finishes in the NACDA Directors' Cup standings. Baylor achieved three Top 40 finishes in the NACDA Director's Cup including its highest finish ever in 2004-05 with a 25th-place ranking. A school-record 13 teams advanced to post-season competition in both 2005-06 and 2006-07. Baylor has also excelled in conference competition consistently finishing in the top half of the Big 12 all-sports standings. Student-athletes have thrived in the classroom as Baylor led the Big 12 in graduation success rate at 88 percent and four-class graduation rate at 64 percent in 2006-07. While Baylor Athletics enjoyed extraordinary academic and athletic success, the department has made dramatic strides administratively as well. A five-year strategic plan for intercollegiate athletics, Above and Beyond, was developed and implemented inclusive of department goals and objectives. An outgrowth of this plan was the creation of the five-year, $90 million development campaign Victory with Integrity which was initiated in February 2005. Improved athletic development success has followed leading to the funding and completion of the Grant Teaff and Letterwinners Plazas; the Lt. Jack Whetsel Jr. Basketball Practice Facility; and, the Willis Family Equestrian Center. The $34 million Highers Athletics Complex and Simpson Athletics and Academic Center will be completed in the fall of 2008. Since McCaw's arrival, the athletic endowment has grown from $14 to more than $24 million. In each of the last four years, the Baylor Bear Foundation has posted a new record for annual funds raised highlighted by its best year ever in 2007-08. Baylor successfully completed the NCAA certification process being cited as one of only two institutions in the certification program's history to have no issues raised in its self-study. An expanded compliance staff, improved financial services area and enhanced Student-Athlete Services/Life Skills unit are among the most significant internal improvements. Record revenues in ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, television, licensing and expanded media exposure underscore the growth in external support for Baylor Athletics. McCaw is Baylor's 12th athletic director and arrived from the University of Massachusetts, where he spent the previous year as director of athletics. McCaw was responsible for a 23-sport program and helped develop and implement a five-year strategic plan for UMass athletics. McCaw oversaw a $2 million renovation of the men's and women's basketball and ice hockey locker room facilities at Massachusetts. In McCaw's one season in Amherst, UMass captured three Atlantic 10. The NCAA graduation rate for UMass student-athletes was 71 percent, 12 points higher than that of the school's general student population. McCaw previously served as director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation at Northeastern University from 1997-2002. During his five years at Northeastern, where he implemented a five-year strategic plan for Northeastern athletics inclusive of department goals and objectives. Northeastern graduated 65 percent of its student-athletes during McCaw's final year at the Boston institution, 14 points higher than the institutional average. Husky student-athletes also gave back to the community, as each team was required to participate in at least one community service project annually. The success of the Northeastern athletic program on McCaw's watch extended beyond the classroom, as the program captured a school-record six America East conference titles in 2001-2002, and five teams finished among the nation's top 20. In all, nine different programs captured at least one conference title during McCaw's tenure and five earned at least one NCAA bid.
A $4 million renovation of Northeastern's Cabot Center, which included a refurbishment of the main gymnasium, an expanded speed, strength and conditioning center, a new sports medicine center, expanded and renovated locker rooms, was also completed under McCaw's direction. McCaw went to Northeastern from Tulane University, where he served as senior associate athletic director for development and associate athletic director for external affairs from 1992-1997, being named Tulane's co-interim director of athletics in 1996. Prior to his years at Tulane, McCaw worked in a variety of athletic administrative posts at the University of Maine from 1986 to 1992 including sports information, marketing and external affairs. Recognized as a national leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCaw serves on the NCAA Recruiting Cabinet. He is the chair of the Big 12 championship and awards committee; a member of the television, game management and officiating committees. He also serves on the National Association of Collegiate Director's of Athletics Executive Committee. McCaw earned his master's degree in sport management from Massachusetts in 1987, after receiving a bachelor's degree in sports administration at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, in 1985. McCaw and his wife, Heather, are members of First Baptist Church of Woodway where he serves as a deacon. They are the parents of four children: Christy, Paul, Callie and Corinne. McCaw is a member of the Board of Directors of Live Oak Classical School in Waco.
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