About Pioneer Athletics
Cal State East Bay is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, and sponsors 15 Intercollegiate athletic programs. In June 2011, the Pioneers made the transition back to NCAA Division II during the 2009-10 season after a 10-year absence. CSUEB is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), which has won 154 national championships since its inception in 1939, the most of any Division II conference. In addition, the Pioneer Swimming program is a member of the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC), while its Water Polo program is a member of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).
Since 1961, the Pioneers have won a total of seven team national collegiate championships and eight individual national championships. Cal State East Bay has produced over 250 All-Americans and over 80 conference championships in NCAA Divisions II and III, as well as in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
MISSION, GOALS, AND STRATEGIC PLAN
MISSION
The California State University East Bay Athletic Department (Pioneer Athletics) strives to fulfill the educational mission of the university while providing unique opportunities for personal growth and success outside of the classroom. Pioneer Athletics has aligned itself with the eight shared strategic commitments set forth by Cal State East Bay, showcasing the partnership that exists between athletics and the university community. Pioneer Athletics maintains its focus on the academic and athletic success of our student-athletes, as well as, preparing this diverse population of students for meaningful lifework and to be socially responsible contributors to society.
VALUES
Pioneer Athletics values the university’s commitment to the education of its students on a local, regional and global stage. We value the university’s commitment to providing the resources necessary for athletics to consistently compete on the conference, regional and national level, academically and athletically. We value the positive environment and sportsmanship that is expected at Cal State East Bay athletic events, allowing all individuals to have an enjoyable and safe experience. We value the physical, emotional and social welfare of our student-athletes and support them to be successful on and off the field.
PRIORITIES AND GOALS
ACADEMIC QUALITY
Pioneer Athletics is committed to the academic progress of all student-athletes and embraces the standards set forth by the NCAA and the CCAA. We prioritize academic excellence, graduation and preparation for future learning and career opportunities. Our main goals are to:
- Outperform the student body in GPA and graduation rates.
- Implement programs and awards to appropriately recognize Student-Athletes for their academic success.
- Create and nourish the relationships with faculty, advisors and academic entities on campus.
INCLUSIVE CAMPUS
The coaching staff at Cal State East Bay will promote Cal State East Bay and Pioneer Athletics through their recruiting efforts locally, nationally and globally. Pioneer Athletics will attract student-athletes from diverse backgrounds and will promote their academic, athletic, professional and personal development. Additionally, Cal State East Bay is committed to gender equity, creating fair and equal opportunities for our male and female student-athletes. We strive to:
- Utilize existing resources to recruit a diverse student-athlete population.
- Create an environment that welcomes and responds to the backgrounds, interests and concerns of our diverse student-athlete population.Foster a culture of gender equity in Athletics at Cal State East Bay.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Pioneer Athletics is devoted to the physical, emotional and social welfare of our student-athletes and will provide off-campus experiential learning opportunities, as well as, work to promote the on-campus experiences that Cal State East Bay has to offer outside of athletics and academics. Our goals are to:
- Increase student-athlete awareness of campus resources and activities.
- Ensure the growth and success of our student-athletes outside of athletics and academics.
- Provide travel and experiential learning opportunities that foster growth in our students’ abilities to function in the world beyond the university campus.
VIBRANT COMMUNITY
Pioneer Athletics works to foster a positive and exciting environment for our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, visiting teams and spectators. We strive to attract a diverse population of individuals to the Cal State East Bay campus and with the spirit of amateurism and sportsmanship, require our administrators, coaches and student-athletes demonstrate hospitality and sportsmanship to all so that we will be considered a gracious host in victory and defeat. We are srtriving to:
- Increase attendance at Athletic Events
- Hold a marquis event each quarter that brings people together to celebrate athletics.
- Provide a safe and positive game environment for the student-athletes, officials, coaches and spectators.
- Strive for Cal State East Bay to be a destination for hosting athletic events.
- Create an environment that encourages former student-athletes to stay involved with the program.
SUSTAINABLE PLANET
CSUEB Athletics will strive to act responsibly and sustainably at local, national, and global levels by making efforts to:
- Investigate ways to share resources in order to decrease waste.
- Utilize electronic files and communication in order to reduce consumption of paper.
- Implement recycling wherever possible.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND COLLABORATION
It is vital that Pioneer Athletics demonstrates integrity in all operations, especially in the areas of finance and NCAA compliance. The department holds all staff and student-athletes accountable for their actions, as representatives of Cal State East Bay, both on and off campus. Pioneer Athletics will work collaboratively and transparently with all university constituencies to maintain a culture of accountability and mutual respect, working to:
- Develop a balanced annual operating budget for intercollegiate athletics and ensure the future stability of intercollegiate athletics at Cal State East Bay.
- Establish business practices, policies and procedures that will ensure that intercollegiate athletics operates with the upmost integrity.
- Maintain a compliance education program that operates to inform the coaches and administration, as well as student-athletes, on all NCAA and CCAA rules and regulations.
- Continue vigilant monitoring of our athletic programs for NCAA compliance.
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Pioneer Athletics is committed to serving the university community, as well as, the local community. The athletic department is dedicated to creating partnerships with local schools, community organizations and causes, in an effort to promote education and social responsibility in our student-athletes while supporting the civic, cultural and economic life of our surrounding community. Our goals are to:
- Prioritize Division II Community Engagement within the Athletic Department.
- Provide opportunities for our student-athletes and spectators to engage in philanthropic causes.
- Continue to seek Pioneer Athletics’ involvement in the broader university community.
LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION
Pioneer Athletics strives to be the best in its representation of Cal State East Bay. The department is committed to providing the resources and support necessary for our student-athletes and coaches to consistently compete athletically and academically on the conference, regional and national level.
- Provide academic support services to promote academic excellence.
- Provide opportunities for teams and student-athletes to compete at the highest level in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and nationally.
- Develop a Strength and Conditioning program to aide our coaches in the growth of their athletes’ strength, speed and agility.
