Mocs Fans, 
 
As the Vice Chancellor & Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I am reaching out to express my profound gratitude for your unwavering dedication and support. You are an integral part and the driving force behind the comprehensive successes of our program. 
 
As part of celebrating our achievements, it is important to emphasize the priority of not only enhancing these accomplishments, but also solidifying our relevancy as a mid-major power. The way we do that is two-fold: being a Mocs Club donor and giving to our official NIL Collective, The Flock. 
 
Today, I invite you to take a step further in your support by considering contributions to the Mocs Club and The Flock NIL Collective. As you may know, Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) has ushered in a transformative era in collegiate athletics. NIL allows our student-athletes to engage in endorsements and promotional activities while continuing their educational and athletic pursuits. 
 
We are committed to doing NIL the 'Chattanooga Way'. This is earning it through hard work, integrity and the entrepreneurial spirit our city is built on. 
 
The 'Chattanooga Way' is also steeped in community and helping our fellow Chattanoogans when needed. We need this spirit to not only show from our current base of supporters, but we also need you to help empower others to get involved. 
 
Why Support the Mocs Club & The Flock NIL Collective?

• Direct Impact: Your contribution to the Mocs Club aids in providing academic resources, facilities upgrades and essential resources that directly benefit our student-athletes through nutritional resources, strength and conditioning and sports medicine programming. Over the next five years, we aim to raise $1.5M each year in annual fund support to UTC Athletics through our Mocs Take Flight initiative. 
• Sustained Excellence: To remain competitive as a premier mid-major collegiate athletic department, we must ensure our programs evolve with the changing landscape of college sports.
• Community Engagement: Our athletes serve as role models. They inspire youth through outreach programs that embody sportsmanship and academic excellence. There is no better way we do this than through the Mocs Club, NIL and The Flock. 

 
Moreover, I'd like to emphasize the critical importance of supporting our basketball programs.  Our intention is not to prioritize certain sports over others, but rather it is to illustrate where the current need exists. 
 
The landscape of college basketball and NIL has reached unprecedented heights, and the time is now for us to adapt. Basketball is not just a game for our community; it's a rallying point and a beacon of excellence that shines far beyond Chattanooga as you see with many schools during March Madness. 
 
NIL is a focal point in the recruitment of student-athletes. If we want to continue to be a leader in our region and recognized nationally as one of the top programs at our level, we must increase the amount of NIL funds available for our student-athletes to utilize in enhancing their brand power. This is a pivotal step into the bold, new era of collegiate athletics. 
 
We will soon welcome a new head coach to lead our women's basketball team. The success of this transition and the continued prosperity of the program hinge on your support through both the Mocs Club and NIL contributions. Here's how your assistance makes a difference:
 
The Benefit of NIL on Campus & Community
The Flock NIL collective empowers student-athletes to leverage their personal brand for opportunities that extend beyond sport. This results in:

• Economic Growth: Student-led initiatives can stimulate local commerce and tourism.
• Enhanced Life Skills: Negotiation, financial literacy, personal branding.
• Diverse Experiences: Collaborations with local businesses that foster community relationships.

 
We aspire to lead by example—demonstrating that integrity and innovation can coexist within collegiate athletics, by supporting these initiatives:

1. We expand educational opportunities for our athletes.
2. We contribute positively to the social fabric of Chattanooga.
3. We invest in the future leaders of tomorrow.

 
As this new landscape is navigated, you are being asked to support in three ways:

• Join the Mocs Club
• Contribute to The Flock (NIL)
  • Monetary Contributions
  • Attendance and Sponsorship of NIL Events
  • Marketing and Service Initiatives involving student-athletes
• Buy season tickets

 
I also encourage you to reach out to Ryan Jones, Sr. Associate AD/Development on any questions involving how you can support UTC Athletics. His email is ryan-jones04@utc.edu and phone number is (423) 425-4773. 
 
Join us as we embark on this new chapter; your engagement is more critical than ever before. 
 
Let's continue to soar together!
 
Go Mocs!
Mark Wharton