Here are the only goals related to winning more I could find specifically stated by the Rice Athletic Program (from it's "Vision for Victory 2019-2023 Strategic Plan" posted on the owl website):
Quote:IMPROVE ATHLETIC COMPETITIVENESS
Goal 4 — Optimize performance through a holistic, science-based approach: Employ a comprehensive approach to maximizing athletic performance, addressing both the physical and mental from preperformance to recovery, in collaboration with strategic partners.
Goal 5 — Attract and retain elite coaches and staff: Develop a systematic hiring process for coaches and staff, and increase retention through professional development and a growing culture of appreciation.
Goal 6 — Identify, recruit, and retain top prospects: Improve the process of identifying and attracting talented, high-potential recruits that are a fit for Rice, and improve retention rates through a targeted student-athlete development strategy
I'll comment here on only the BIG 3 Men's Sports, since that's pretty much what drives profit and profile for the school nationally:
IMO the phrase "Improve athletic competitiveness" is a non-starter. It commits to nothing, has no metric for winning percentages, or even winning at all, and holds no coaches accountable.
To wit: AD: "Coach, your team went 0-9, and is 2-20 overall since you got here. What do you have to say?"
Coach: "Yeah, but we improved our athletic competitiveness, as described in your Strategic Plan."
AD: "Hmmm, is that your opinion?"
Coach: "Yeah, sure."
AD: well, then, would you like to sign an extension with a raise to stay on here?"
Coach: "Yeah, super. Opinions, y'know, they say everyone's got one."
AD: "Certainly. Excellent job, Coach!"
Fans: "Bleeech."
Goal 4:
(FOUR???? WTH?) Didn't we buy some kind of magic-QB-strategizer-technology-thingy a few years ago in other coach's tenure? How's our W-L record since we made that "investment?" None of what is stated in this
fourth goal for the program seems to state anything about improving winning. Sounds like: "Look nicer while losing."
Goal 5: Elite coaching?? It has been well-demonstrated over decades that the primary way to do that is to open the checkbook. Where does Rice BIG3 sports group of coaches stand on this list? realizing that merely paying present coaches more, or at an equal level with average P5 national coaches does little to nothing to improve their performance. They are already chosen. The time to open the wallet is during the initial hire, and then go up from there if the coach performs well here, in order to retain him. No sense retaining a poorly performing coach (but we did for 11 years, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.) Again, Rice way of applying this does little to nothing to change the losing, which is what matters.
Goal 6: Basically says nothing more than "recruit". Are we somehow not recruiting at all right now/in past??? Is that a problem? "Improve" recruiting--exactly how do we measure this? By, I don;t know, more Wins?? Nah, too complicated an algorithm for a Rice Department to figure out.
The "Strategic Plan" states it will use "metrics" to measure.
It does not state an aspiration to return to what is now called P-5 status as soon as possible. It does not state to dominate current conference i9n most wins in each season. It does not seem to state to win more much at all.
Do "they" have a "plan" well, yeah, they have something with that word label on it. Is it a real plan for improving winning on the field in the 3 major sports at Rice? IS there a Santa Claus? Depends on how you look at it, I guess. Merry Christmas! (Is it still PC to say that?? Better check what Obier thinks.)