An Update on How Well NC State is Doing Meeting the Goals of Their 2021-26 Athletic Strategic Plan

In July of 2021, NC State’s Athletic Department unveiled their 5-year Strategic Plan, aligning with Boo Corrigan’s second year as the Wolfpack’s Athletic Director. The plan sets out five key goals designed to enhance the department’s performance and prestige. A pivotal component of this strategy is Objective #4 of Goal #2, ‘Fierce Competitive Excellence,’ which specifically targets the actual performance metrics of the sports programs. This analysis will delve into how well the Athletic Department is meeting the four criteria of Objective #4.

Here’s a breakdown of how NC State is doing at meeting the 4 criteria of Objective #4 through 3 full athletic years, and the Fall of the 4th.

Win at Least 1 ACC Championship in the Next 5 Years in Each of the Following Sports: Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Football and Baseball 

Men’s Basketball – (2023-24)

(Women’s Basketball and Baseball have two more chances to win an ACC Championship, and Football has one more.) 

Annual Placement of 10 Programs in Official Top 25 Polls

2021-2022 

1. Women’s Cross Country (1st)
2. Football (20th)
3. Women’s Basketball (3rd)
4. Men’s Swimming & Diving (2nd)
5. Women’s Swimming & Diving (4th)
6. Women’s Gymnastics (15th)
7. Wrestling (10th)
8. Men’s Tennis (18th)
9. Women’s Tennis (6th)

2022-2023

1. Men’s Cross Country (11th)
2. Women’s Cross Country (1st)
3. Men’s Swimming & Diving (4th)
4. Women’s Swimming & Diving (4th)
5. Wrestling (10th)
6. Men’s Tennis (21st)
7. Women’s Tennis (19th)

2023-2024 

1. Men’s Cross Country (17th)
2. Women’s Cross Country (1st)
3. Football (21st)
4. Men’s Basketball (10th)
5. Women’s Basketball (4th)
6. Men’s Swimming & Diving (4th)
7. Women’s Swimming & Diving (11th)
8. Wrestling (11th)
9. Baseball (6th)
10. Men’s Tennis (18th)
11. Women’s Tennis (16th)

2024-2025 

1. Women’s Cross Country (8th)
2. Men’s Soccer (14th)

(The goal was for 10 programs to finish in the Top-25 annually. Through the first three years, last year was the first year NC State attained the goal. They have two more chances to hit the mark.)

20 Conference Championships by 2026 or 4 per Year

• Wrestling – 3 (2022-24)
• Women’s Cross Country – 3 (2021-23)
• Men’s Swimming & Diving – 3 (2022-24)
• Men’s Basketball – 1 (2024)
• Women’s Basketball – 1 (2022)
• Women’s Gymnastics – 1 (2024)
• Women’s Tennis – 1 (2023)

(NC State currently has 13 Conference Championships through 3 years and the Fall season of the 4th. Five seasons left to win 7 more.)

Postseason Success as Measured by in the Directors’ Cup: Top-25 Finish Each Year for the Next 5 Years 

• 21-22: 17th
• 22-23: 19th
• 23-24: 21st

(This is the one criteria that NC State has hit every single year thus far.)