Survey shows K-State, KU athletic donations among top 10 in NCAA Division I

Donations to the Kansas State and Kansas athletic departments were among the top 10 in NCAA Division I for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, according to a survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education.

While K-State reported $22,291,858 in contributions for 2014-2015 in its annual NCAA membership report, the council’s survey showed more than $34.3 million in private donations for the Wildcats, which included deferred gifts. That ranked sixth in the country, behind Texas A&M ($66.99 million), Oregon ($53.70 million), Michigan ($51.72 million), Texas ($42.23 million) and TCU ($38.32 million).

The survey showed KU brought in nearly $29 million in athletic donations for 2014-2015, which ranked 10th. The Jayhawks reported $24,592,546 million in contributions to the NCAA for the last fiscal year.

Despite the donations, KU’s athletic department operated at a deficit in 2014-2015. The Jayhawks reported $91,860,673 in operating revenues to the NCAA and expenses of $92,207,877, a deficit of nearly $350,000. KU posted a record $97.68 million in revenue for 2013-2014 and about $90 million in expenses.

K-State’s athletic department operated with an $8 million surplus for the last fiscal year with record operating revenue of $75,323,278 and expenses of $67,316,209. Both numbers were up from 2013-2014, when K-State reported $72,935,044 in revenue and $62,576,606 in expenses.

Missouri reported athletic contributions of $17.2 million to the NCAA for fiscal year 2014-2015. The Tigers posted a record $91,217,778 in revenue, up from $83,718,587 in 2013-2014, and $86,859,158 in expenses, also a record, up from $80.23 million a year ago.

New facilities at Kansas and Kansas State help explain the top-10 rated contribution numbers.

Athletics donations have been up at K-State for several years, and that is most noticeable by the new facilities sprouting up across campus. The basketball team is training in a new practice facility, the football team operates out of a state-of-the-art operations complex and the West Stadium Center gives Bill Snyder Family Stadium a completely different feel. Throw in a new practice center for the rowing team, and K-State has constructed $210 million worth of facility upgrades under athletic director John Currie.

That process remains ongoing. Recent donations allowed K-State to break ground on another phase of renovations that will bring a third video board to the football stadium, as well as new seating for the marching band and permanent locker rooms for visiting teams.

Construction of the project is underway. It is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2016 home opener.

Cranes have been visible around Allen Fieldhouse for two years, with McCarthy Hall, the $11.2 million apartment building that’s home to the men’s basketball team plus 21 nonathlete students, completed in October.

Also the DeBruce Center, a glass building adjacent to the fieldhouse, is set to open in a matter of weeks. The $18 million, 32,000-square-foot structure will be home to James Naismith’s original “Rules of Basket Ball,” along with a restaurant, coffee shop and gift shop.

Pledges for the projects can be counted in one year, even if the payments are spread over several years. Also part of donation figures are contributions made to schools’ athletic scholarship funds.

The other schools in the top 10 for athletic donations in 2014-2015, according to the Council for Aid to Education survey, were Auburn, which ranked seventh at $31.74 million, Washington ($30.73 million) and Notre Dame ($30.46 million).

The survey did not include all Division I schools. Among those that didn’t participate were Florida State, LSU and Clemson.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Survey shows K-State, KU athletic donations among top 10 in NCAA Division I."