Cal Poly alumni have launched Project Omaha, a fundraising initiative aiming to raise five million dollars in scholarship funds for the university’s baseball program, according to an announcement on May 26. The effort follows Cal Poly’s recent victory as Big West Champions and their first NCAA playoffs appearance in eleven years.
Project Omaha is designed to address new NCAA rules that increased the scholarship limit from 11.7 to 34. While Cal Poly currently lacks funding for the full number of scholarships, the initiative aims to cover at least 25 scholarships, with a matching contribution from the university for every dollar raised. The goal is a total of ten million dollars over five years dedicated to supporting student-athletes.
The project is led by former Cal Poly baseball players Robin Baggett and Jason Novi, both significant benefactors of the program. Baggett said, “My education at Cal Poly was baseball; it really taught me all the life lessons.” He recounted how he and other alumni helped save the program in 1979 when there was a proposal to eliminate several sports including baseball: “The year ‘79 was critical… There was a proposal to eliminate some sports, and baseball was one of them.”
Novi emphasized Project Omaha’s importance in retaining talent amid competition from larger schools offering name-image-likeness (NIL) incentives: “Darn near every recruit that we get to San Luis Obispo, once we get them here, they don’t want to leave,” Novi said. He added that being able to offer more scholarships could be decisive: “We were only a pitcher or two away from winning that regional in Oregon last year.”
As of this season, head coach Larry Lee has started using funds raised through Project Omaha for incoming players. New recruits include replacements for starting catcher, Sunday pitcher, and closer positions thanks to these scholarships.
Baggett expressed continued commitment: “He explains that he shares the same mentality now with Project Omaha, and so does the school.” With $2.5 million already raised toward its goal and support from fans and alumni alike, Cal Poly Baseball seeks not only sustained success but also hopes for future championship runs.