MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman announced today that Maverick Athletics is in the final stages of completing a new five-year, seven-month agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System that concludes an RFP process completed earlier this year. The partnership will offer MSU Athletics a comprehensive sports medicine portfolio that will provide coaches and student-athletes holistic healthcare support.  

As part of the agreement, Mayo Clinic Health System will be the official provider of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for Maverick Athletics. Mayo will provide sideline coverage for football, along with men's and women's hockey. In addition, Mayo will annually offer nearly 450 hours of physician time for other sports and event coverage, on-site weekly injury evaluation and other administrative time.  Student-athletes and coaches may also have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials or other research to help shape the future of sports medicine care delivery.
 
The new contract is effective Dec. 1, 2023, and significantly expands the overall investment, types of services available and coverage hours that directly benefit participating student-athletes. The total value of the partnership will top $4.14 million with more than $2.59 million in funds through a series of cash payments and net sponsorship investments and an additional $1.55 million of orthopedic physician coverage and services that will be provided by Mayo over the term of the contract.

"We are pleased to announce this new partnership with Mayo Clinic Health System," said Buisman. "It doesn't get much better than aligning Minnesota State Athletics with one of the most recognizable brand names in the medical industry. This immediately further elevates the perception of our program and speaks volumes about our commitment to success. Mayo Clinic Health System is a world-class health organization and we are grateful for the investment they will be making in Maverick Athletics. We look forward to the start of an exciting new journey together."

Leaders from the Mayo Clinic Health System are enthused about the opportunity to partner and serve Maverick Athletics.

"We are excited and proud to partner with Minnesota State University - Mankato to provide comprehensive care to student-athletes and support the continued growth and success of Maverick Athletics," says James Hebl, M.D., regional vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System. "In addition to providing care to athletes before, during and after their competitions, we're also investing in their mental health by launching a pilot support program to address mental health needs identified by the university."
 
University President Edward Inch indicates there are other University-wide benefits to the new agreement.
 
"Our focus was on identifying the best possible sports medicine partner to support our coaches and student-athletes and I feel very confident we had a sound process that allowed us to do that. The fact that this partnership also aligns very well with our academic strategic mission is a bonus.  We look forward to growing this relationship with Mayo Clinic Health System."

Buisman said proceeds from the agreement would continue to be reinvested into underwriting athletic training staffing salary costs and sustaining other aspects of the sports medicine operation that supports more than 585 student-athletes across 20 sports programs, including two sports at the NCAA Division I level and 18 competing at the Division II level. Finally, said Buisman, the partnership highlights a commitment to excellence as it aligns Maverick Athletics with arguably the most highly renowned health care provider in the world.

For more information about the partnership, contact Buisman by phone at 507-389-6111 or by email at kevin.buisman@mnsu.edu.

About Mayo Clinic Health System
 
Mayo Clinic Health System has a physical presence in 44 communities and consists of 53 clinics, 16 hospitals and other facilities that serve the health care needs of people in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based health care professionals, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality physical and virtual health care close to home.