Lion Nation,

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! With the football season now complete, I recognize there are questions surrounding the program, including some that specifically relate to staffing and resource allocation. I want to take this opportunity to speak with you directly regarding the state of Lion Football as we move into the offseason.

Following a comprehensive review of the football program, Clint Dolezel will return as head coach for the 2026 season. On the field, Coach Dolezel has directed an offensive resurgence that resulted in the 18th best passing offense in the country, as well as scoring offense and total offense rankings that are both in the top half of the country. Off the field, Dolezel's teams have been among the top 10 in the country for number of graduates during each of the past two years, and following the Spring 2025 semester earned the football team's first 3.0 semester GPA in five years.

While program improvements are unmistakable, the fact remains that on-field results have not yet matched our collective expectations for the program. I know this, as does Coach Dolezel, and we stand together in our commitment to align program expectations with results.

Since my arrival at East Texas, the athletics department has worked in close partnership with university leadership to develop an aggressive plan to advance and invest in our athletics program while also navigating the Division I reclassification process. There are several examples to date of this plan being successfully implemented – some more visible than others. This includes scholarship enhancements, new staff and coaching additions, new student-athlete health and performance investments, media and brand growth, renovations of existing facilities, and construction of the new $75 million event center.

More specifically as it relates to football, since the announcement of our transition to Division I in fall 2021, the university has successfully increased its total football expenditure by nearly $2 million per year. This increased investment has resulted in:

• Full allotment of scholarships up to previous NCAA limits, including full cost of attendance and summer school.
• The addition of new full-time staff and coaches up to previous NCAA limits, including a new full-time assistant coach, a full-time director of football operations, and a full-time equipment manager.
• Elevating operating budget lines for football – including recruiting, equipment, and team travel – to levels that are consistent with the top half of the Southland Conference.
• A full reset of all protective equipment, uniforms, and training apparel.
• Engagement with a globally recognized design firm to initiate a feasibility study for the football stadium and surrounding mixed-use development opportunities.
• The addition of three full-time certified athletic trainers to the sports medicine team, designation of a new board-certified chief medical officer for athletics, and the addition of a new team orthopedic doctor with previous NFL experience.

The next phase of our football investment plan is being implemented now, the details of which are outlined below. At the same time, we recognize the need to remain responsive to the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics and our plan is reflective of this dynamic. Effective immediately, new resource enhancements for Lion Football include:

• Increasing the football assistant coach salary pool to the highest total in the Southland Conference.
• Allocation of a six-figure NIL/revenue-sharing pool for football to recruit and retain elite student-athletes.
• Identifying an architectural firm to program the conversion of the Field House into a new, dedicated football training facility inclusive of an indoor turf field, team and position meeting rooms, a new weight room, and coaches' offices. This investment will provide football with a year-round training facility that will recruit, develop, coach, and retain future football champions.

These resource enhancements – both now and from the outset of the Division I reclassification process – would not have been possible without full alignment between athletics and university leadership, along with a collective commitment to a plan that achieves long-term, sustainable success for football. With that said, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge another area of support that is critical for sustained excellence at the Division I level – donor support and engagement.

Over the past two years, we have seen the number of donors to Lion Athletics grow to a record high. We are grateful for this increased support as it allows us to continue elevating each of our 14 sport programs while directly contributing to record-setting academic and graduation outcomes for student-athletes. However, there is more work to be done. While the growth of our pride is cause for celebration, we must continue to add new donors if we want to be in position to consistently compete for championships across all sports.

In the coming weeks we will launch a branded campaign focused on raising the number of annual athletics donors to 4,000. Based on modeling and benchmarking against aspirational peers in Division I, we believe this number will position East Texas A&M for championship level success across all sports – including national championships in FCS football.

Is this a big goal? Yes. Is it achievable? Without question, provided we all rally together to unlock the full potential of Lion Athletics. Your investment, in any amount, is critical for shaping the future of Lion Athletics. During the height of our time in Division II we had nearly 400 athletics donors – imagine what's possible if we grow this number to 4,000! We need your support, and you can join the pride today by visiting www.lionathletics.com/excellence.

Thank you for your passion, your loyalty, and your support. I invite anyone in Lion Nation who has questions related to football, or any other sport program, to contact me directly. I am happy to visit with you to discuss all the exciting initiatives surrounding Lion Athletics.

Hail ET and Go Lions!


 
Jim Curry
Director of Athletics
East Texas A&M University