Thursday David Heeke of the University of Oregon spoke to a group of 19 people on the reasons why he should be Ball State University's new athletic director.
Heeke, a senior associate athletic director at Oregon, talked about subjects regarding revenue generation to the student athlete.
Heeke said he believes in building a championship experience for athletes through athletics, academics and social life by means of creating revenue.
"To enhance that experience and give the opportunity for student-athletes, and students in general," Heeke said. "There is a revenue component to that. There is a the need to generate additional revenue to fund opportunities. To make the experience better for student athletes."
Oregon faced a revenue situation during the 1980s when the school's budget was at $8.5 million. During Heeke's arrival in 1988, and through his career, the budget has been on an increase and reached $36 million last year.
"That's (athletics) about motivating people," Heeke said. "Charting a course and setting a vision for what intercollegiate athletics is. Sharing that vision with the public, the campus community, with the Muncie community and the state of Indiana.
"Sharing the positive nature that exists there. And motivating those people to become involved in the program."
Heeke sees Ball State as potentially being the benchmark program of the Mid-American Conference.
"We should be the program everyone else compares themself to," Heeke said about Ball State's potential. "We need some additional resources to do the things to excel to a higher level.
"I really believe that Ball State is in position to be a leader. It's been a great successor over the last few years, a great tradition and a great history. And it's time to capitalize on that, take that to a new level, and really build a program everybody can be proud of and remain proud of."
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