UTC's Wharton talks fundraising, NIL and raising trophies in the months ahead

Staff file photo / UTC athletic director Mark Wharton said it's been "very frustrating" to lack answers when people ask him for assurances about fall sports, including foootball, for the Mocs in the 2020-21 school year.
Staff file photo / UTC athletic director Mark Wharton said it's been "very frustrating" to lack answers when people ask him for assurances about fall sports, including foootball, for the Mocs in the 2020-21 school year.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic director Mark Wharton last week received a contract extension through August 2026.

Wharton has been UTC's athletic director since August 2017, and should he serve out his latest deal, he would possess the lengthiest run as AD of the Mocs since Harold Wilkes, who maintained the role from 1970 to 1990.

"I'm excited about being here for a long time," Wharton said.

His extension comes at a time of great optimism with UTC's football and basketball programs and also with student-athletes having empowerment like never before. Wharton recently addressed those topics and more as his athletic department moves on from an unprecedented school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

How is fundraising going after a school year that contained limited games and limited crowds?

A: "Our priority deadline was May 1 for Mocs Club benefits, and we had a huge influx. We sit here today about $250,000 better than we were at the end of 2019. Our staff has done a great job, and the community has rallied. We did something in the fall called Mocs Fly Together that helped us offset some COVID expenses, and that was a great success."

What is the latest on the Wolford Family Athletic Center that is scheduled to be adjacent to McKenzie Arena?

A: "COVID kind of paused it a little bit, and then the Tennessee System kind of changed the way you have to get approved, so we basically had to redo that process. To answer your question, by the end of October or in early November, we will be moving some dirt, and we're really excited about that."

Given that artist renderings for an athletic center have been out since 2015, how trying has this been?

A: "I know our donors and fans have been frustrated, and Rusty Wright and our other coaches who will benefit from this are a little frustrated, but all signs are go, and we don't see anything getting in the way. It's going to be an inconvenience for about 18 months, but it's going to be well worth it in the end."

What preparation did you and your staff have to do on the name, image and likeness (NIL) front?

A: "It was kind of a test in patience. The NIL kept changing with all the states passing their laws, and each and every one of them had some nuance that was different. Tennessee was originally, when they passed it, supposed to go in effect on July 1 of 2022, but then they moved it to January 1, 2022. Then the NCAA came out allowing anybody to make money doing it.

"It was kind of a guess going into it, but we're going to partner with a third-party firm that's going to help us with the education and some compliance issues and different things for our student-athletes as we go into the fall."

Has there been an opportunity already for a UTC student-athlete to capitalize on an NIL opportunity?

A: "We've had a company reach out to us about one of our student-athletes, but nothing is done yet. I anticipate several of our student-athletes having opportunities."

Do you anticipate adding any staff to help educate student-athletes on their newfound empowerment?

A: "We do anticipate probably having to hire another compliance person to be able to work through contracts and provide some of that education. The NIL isn't just about your star quarterback or point guard but who has developed the strongest social media following. You hear about a swimmer at Texas who has a hundred thousand followers on social media, and companies are reaching out to her.

"The individual we hire will have to monitor the social media of the student-athletes to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to do with whatever endorsement deal they get."

Are you concerned that a UTC supporter who owns a business could now give money directly to student-athletes to promote that business instead of giving to the Mocs Club?

A: "If you have someone who has thousands and thousands of followers, you may decide that giving $10,000 to that student-athlete will get more eyes than their donation to the Mocs Club. You would hope they would give to the Mocs Club for the right reason, but if they see a return on the investment with the student-athlete, I certainly see the challenges with that."

How ready are you for some normalcy after numerous basketball games were held inside an empty McKenzie and the football team played four spring games before opting out?

A: "I've learned not to take any of this for granted. Before COVID, I had three weekends out of a year that weren't dedicated to Mocs athletics. Then you go through this pandemic, and I missed being around our student-athletes and our coaches. Then we had all the protocols we had to go through.

"We all know that this could be a special year in football and in men's basketball. I'm tempering my excitement, but I am excited about this year and seeing the faces again. Hopefully, we'll be raising some trophies starting this fall."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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