How is NC State Doing Meeting Their 2021-26 Athletic Strategic Plan Goals After Men’s Swimming & Diving?

In July 2021, NC State’s Athletic Department unveiled their 5-year Strategic Plan, coinciding with Boo Corrigan’s second year as the Wolfpack’s Athletic Director. The plan establishes 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 targets the performance metrics of the sports programs specifically. This analysis will delve into how well the Athletic Department is meeting the four criteria of Objective #4.

Here’s an update on how NC State has met the four criteria of Objective #4 following the conclusion of the Men’s Swimming & Diving seasons.

Win at Least 1 ACC Championship in the Next 5 Years (2022-26) in Each of the Following Sports: Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Football and Baseball

Women’s Basketball – (2022)
Men’s Basketball – (2024)

(Baseball has 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)
3. Wrestling (8th)
4. Women’s Swimming & Diving (10th)
5. Men’s Swimming & Diving (9th)

(Through the first three years, last year was the first year NC State attained this goal. They have two more chances to hit the mark. In the current athletic year, the Wolfpack has had 5 sports finish in the Top-25, with 10 sports still remaining.)

20 ACC Championships by 2026 or 4 per Year

• Wrestling – 4 (2022-25)
• Women’s Cross Country – 3 (2021-23)
• Men’s Swimming & Diving – 3 (2022-24)
• Men’s Basketball – 1 (2024)
• Women’s Basketball – 2 (2022 & 2025)
• Women’s Gymnastics – 1 (2024)
• Women’s Tennis – 1 (2023)

(NC State currently has 15 Conference Championships since 2021-22. This year, the Wolfpack has won 2 ACC Titles in Women’s Basketball (Regular Season) and Wrestling (Regular Season). Eight more NC State teams have a chance to win a Conference Championship this year.) 

Postseason Success as Measured 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. They ranked 23rd in the Final 2024-25 Standings. The Wolfpack ranked 23rd in the Final Fall Standings this year.)