
Soaring To New Heights
8/2/2021 1:00:00 PM | General
Georgia Southern Athletics releases its new strategic plan
Dear Eagle Nation,
The opportunity to serve each of you since my arrival in April 2020 has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting countless members of Eagle Nation and your PASSION for this great institution is CONTAGIOUS. The support each of you provides to Georgia Southern University and our athletic programs ensures that we can achieve COMPREHENSIVE EXCELLENCE in the years ahead.
With great enthusiasm, we invite you on our journey "Soaring to New Heights" – our strategic plan for Georgia Southern Athletics. This plan will serve as our blueprint for the next five years (2021-2026) as we have a UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY to write the next great chapter in our storied history!
"Soaring to New Heights" was developed over a six-month process and engaged student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, and Athletic Foundation Board members. It consists of a newly created mission and vision statement as well as new guiding principles for Georgia Southern Athletics. The plan identifies five strategic priorities for the next five years:
• Student-Athlete Success
• Competitive Excellence
• Resource Optimization
• Brand Engagement / Fan Experience
• Do Right: Diversity & Integrity
These five areas of focus highlight 29 objectives and 128 initiatives.
Georgia Southern Athletics operates in an ecosystem that is constantly changing. Therefore, this strategic plan is a living document that will require continual ASSESSMENT and FLEXIBILITY. We will report annually on our progress towards completing these objectives. Our assessments toward goal completion will be communicated transparently with accountability; you will know exactly how we are tracking our progress.
The best days of Georgia Southern Athletics are ahead! TOGETHER we can each play a part in helping us reach the goals outlined in this plan!
As always, I welcome your feedback and ideas. The STRENGTH of Eagle Nation is its members. Thank you for your continued support!
Hail Southern! G.A.T.A.!

Jared Benko
Georgia Southern Director of Athletics
The opportunity to serve each of you since my arrival in April 2020 has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting countless members of Eagle Nation and your PASSION for this great institution is CONTAGIOUS. The support each of you provides to Georgia Southern University and our athletic programs ensures that we can achieve COMPREHENSIVE EXCELLENCE in the years ahead.
With great enthusiasm, we invite you on our journey "Soaring to New Heights" – our strategic plan for Georgia Southern Athletics. This plan will serve as our blueprint for the next five years (2021-2026) as we have a UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY to write the next great chapter in our storied history!
"Soaring to New Heights" was developed over a six-month process and engaged student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, and Athletic Foundation Board members. It consists of a newly created mission and vision statement as well as new guiding principles for Georgia Southern Athletics. The plan identifies five strategic priorities for the next five years:
• Student-Athlete Success
• Competitive Excellence
• Resource Optimization
• Brand Engagement / Fan Experience
• Do Right: Diversity & Integrity
These five areas of focus highlight 29 objectives and 128 initiatives.
Georgia Southern Athletics operates in an ecosystem that is constantly changing. Therefore, this strategic plan is a living document that will require continual ASSESSMENT and FLEXIBILITY. We will report annually on our progress towards completing these objectives. Our assessments toward goal completion will be communicated transparently with accountability; you will know exactly how we are tracking our progress.
The best days of Georgia Southern Athletics are ahead! TOGETHER we can each play a part in helping us reach the goals outlined in this plan!
As always, I welcome your feedback and ideas. The STRENGTH of Eagle Nation is its members. Thank you for your continued support!
Hail Southern! G.A.T.A.!
Jared Benko
Georgia Southern Director of Athletics
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