Colorado athletic department officials are planning a round of town hall meetings for January and February in hopes of generating ideas and improving relationships with fans and alumni.

Athletic director Mike Bohn first put the idea to work nearly four years ago when he took over the department after being hired away from San Diego State.

He held a series of meetings around Boulder County believing that hearing directly from season-ticket holders, donors and the average fan was the best way to figure out how to solve the department's most pressing problems.

And the department had plenty of issues that required immediate attention at the time. Fundraising was lagging, season-ticket sales were down and the football program was just beginning to emerge from two years of allegations of misconduct, most of which was never substantiated.

Bohn plans to branch out this time with as many as seven meetings around the state.

He said he will answer questions on any topic that affects the school, the department he oversees and the more than 300 student-athletes who compete in 16 different sports at CU.

In keeping up with the times, the department plans to stream the sessions live on the Internet so those who are unable to attend or who live out of state can still experience them.

Bohn said it's time for a new round of fresh ideas. He said Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson and football coach Dan Hawkins will participate in at least one of the meetings and could be involved in more depending on their schedules. Other coaches and administrators also are likely to participate.

"We want to continue to do a great job in communicating with, and listening to, all the groups who support our program," Bohn said.

One of the meetings will take place on campus and be geared toward questions and issues presented by faculty and students, Bohn said.

Dates and sites for the town hall meetings will likely be announced early next month.

Practice facility

on track

The department must break ground on a new basketball practice facility attached to the Coors Events Center within the next two years under the terms of men's basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik's contract.

Bohn said the funding still must be obtained for a project expected to cost as much as $10 million, but he said he is optimistic it will be completed on time.

All projects costing $1 million or more must be approved by the state legislature, and Bohn said that hurdle has been cleared.

"We are making progress every day and that project is on schedule," Bohn said.

Notable

Bohn said CU has offered the newly created job of director of student-athlete wellness to one of a pool of candidates and should be ready to announce the hiring soon.

Bohn and other CU officials decided to create the job in response to off-field problems some of the department's student-athletes have gotten into in recent years. Bohn said the person will be a counselor of sorts for student-athletes, but one who will be a trained professional with expertise in mental health issues.

"That position will incorporate all aspects of addressing the challenges of young people on both the proactive side or the preventative side and the rehabilitative side," Bohn said.