Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company, drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams and 65+ college athletic departments. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Learn more. 

D1.ticker’s Sport Administrator Database... has been updated for Q1 of 2026. Nearly 80 schools submitted changes in the past few weeks. You'll find every sport administrator assignment at every DI department around the nation for 55 existing & emerging sports. Efficiency play for scheduling, best practices, coaching & staff searches, etc. Free signup & usage. Please reply to this email if your school’s list needs an update. (link) 

The Arizona Daily Star’s Greg Hansen reflects on the decade-long transformation of college sports administration, noting that Arizona AD Desireé Reed-Francois estimates the job has shifted from "75% competition, 25% other stuff" to "75% finances, 25% competition." Hansen points to Colorado’s new contract for AD Fernando Lovo—featuring six-figure bonuses tied explicitly to fundraising thresholds ($25M and $35M)—as evidence of the new priorities, contrasting it with past incentives based on Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. The operational shift is also visible in staffing, as Hansen notes Arizona's fundraising and marketing teams have doubled from 11 employees under then-AD Greg Byrne in 2016 to 22 today. Georgia AD Josh Brooks echoed the sentiment, telling the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "I love working with staff and student-athletes, and having an impact on their lives. But now you have to spend more time on the legalities of college sports, and how you're going to be creative to fund-raise, because that is paramount." (link)

The Athletic's Ralph Russo analyzes the "rust vs. rest" debate in the College Football Playoff, noting that teams with first-round byes are now 1-7 over the first two seasons of the 12-team format, with top-seeded Indiana's Rose Bowl win over Alabama marking the sole victory for a bye recipient. Breaking it down…

 

➤ Power 4 ADs are questioning the value of the bye, with one noting: "Not with a four-week layoff they aren’t. If it was like the NFL where you had a bye week while others played and were off just a week, then yes. Teams playing every two weeks have the advantage.” 

 

➤ While Oregon HC Dan Lanning has advocated for an overhaul that eliminates byes and starts the playoff immediately after the regular season to keep momentum, Russo explains that logistical hurdles like existing bowl contracts, NFL scheduling conflicts, and locked-in national championship dates make drastic calendar shifts unlikely for next season. Russo suggests that expanding to a 16-team bracket without byes might be the best way to solve the layoff issue.

 

➤ Russo: “It remains to be seen whether this CFP format quirk further motivates the management committee to come to an agreement on expansion. There is also some question about just how much of a detriment the extended downtime that comes with the byes really is after an eight-game sample. No one can argue that having to win three games to win a championship is better than having to win four. But with no easy way to address the long layoffs within the current calendar, saying buh-bye to the byes might be the best way to go.” (link)

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman analyzes the SEC’s diminishing dominance in the NIL era, as highlighted by Indiana’s 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl and the league's 4-9 overall bowl record this postseason. Coaches and insiders argue that NIL and the transfer portal have "erased the limitations" that previously allowed SEC powerhouses to stockpile talent, leveling the playing field for programs like Illinois, which has now beaten SEC teams in back-to-back bowl games. More key nuggets from Feldman’s piece…

 

➤ As one Power 4 offensive coordinator noted: "Hard to ignore the fact that when everyone got to pay players, it leveled the playing field immediately. They can deny all they want, but that’s a fact." The talent drain is also reflected in the NFL Draft, where Feldman notes the Big Ten nearly matched the SEC in top-50 picks last year (18 vs. 21). 

 

➤ A Group of 5 DC who coached in the SEC tells Feldman: “The SEC became really relevant when USC and Miami (FL) got into trouble back in the day. Then the SEC was really able to get into Florida and was able to get into the West and Texas, able to get kids in. Now, with the NIL world coming in, that kid in Florida or someplace else doesn’t have to go to the SEC to have a better lifestyle. Miami, all of a sudden, has become relevant again because the amount of money the school is paying is now up with everybody else. … Nick Saban’s the greatest coach of all time, but Nick knew what was coming down the pipe.” 

 

➤ Illinois HC Bret Bielema adds: “The people who are having a hard time believing it still think it’s 2020. Forget 2000 or 2005-10. It’s a completely different world now. The world has flipped, and for all those who want to live in the past, they were the ones who were great in the past. The people who want to live in the future and the world we’re in now are the ones who are embracing success.” (link)

JohnCanzano.com’s eponymous publisher shares several Pac-12 updates, including that Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould is closing in on hiring a deputy commissioner, a crucial piece of the leadership team needed to pivot the conference ahead of the official July 1 relaunch. Canzano also notes that the league is consulting with brand experts on a logo tweak and fresh branding, urging them to register "Pac-12 After Dark.” Finally, with only eight football members for 2026, the conference faces a looming scheduling decision—potentially opting for seven conference games plus five non-conference, or using a "crossover" alliance—while ADs view the 2026 slate as a one-off with a preference to expand to nine members by 2027. (link)

Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger sorts through the logistics of how outgoing Ole Miss/incoming LSU Football ACs are handling their duties this week: “Ole Miss RBs coach Kevin Smith, one of the assistants who signed with LSU, has returned to Oxford and is at practice today. … Ole Miss' playoff coaching staff structure remains in flux as assistants travel back and forth from Oxford to Baton Rouge. As noted Saturday, Charlie Weis Jr. went from New Orleans after the Sugar Bowl, to Baton Rouge for LSU meetings, to Oxford for Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl prep, back to Baton Rouge for LSU recruiting and is expected back in Oxford for more game prep. The coaches are flying back and forth on private jets on Ole Miss' expense. … It still remains unclear if the other LSU-bound assistants who were supposed to remain with Ole Miss for the CFP run will be in Phoenix for the game or in Oxford for prep.” (link)

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports Ole Miss has filed another letter to the NCAA on behalf of QB Trinidad Chambliss' medical redshirt waiver request for a sixth year. The letter, via attorney Tom Mars, says in part: "Based on the 'objective evidence' submitted by Ole Miss, it would be absurd for the Committee to conclude that 91 pages of medical records and a detailed letter from Trinidad’s treating physician do not constitute ‘other appropriate medical documentation’ within the meaning of Bylaw 12.6.4.2.2." Thamel adds: “There's high stakes for Chambliss with the NCAA decision. He would be among the top players in the NCAA transfer portal and command millions for 2026 if he's allowed another year of eligibility.” (link)

The Daily News-Record's Shane Mettlen investigates the sudden media push for a separate Group of 6 playoff, citing multiple sources who suggest the narrative is being driven by private equity firms looking to create a tiered college football structure. James Madison AD Matt Roan dismissed the concept as a "non-starter" among administrators, noting: “You’ve not really seen anybody from the Group of 6 advocate for a Group of 6 playoff and there’s really been nobody from the A4 advocate for a Group of 6 playoff. A lot of what you’re seeing is media. It’s people who are paid to talk about these things, not people who are necessarily paid to affect change in these things.” (link) 

Coaches.wire is your one-stop-shop to keep up with all of the coaching staff changes, across all sports at the collegiate level. From Division I through NJCAA, we track all the movements and compile them in one email for your convenience. Check out this morning’s edition. (link)

D1.ticker’s CollegeSports.jobs outperformed the industry in Division I hiring growth for 2025, posting an 11.25% increase in job postings that significantly outpaced the broader market (-52.94% fewer job posts overall across all job boards), NCAA (-33.40%), and NACDA (-42.26%). In December specifically, CollegeSports.jobs recorded a 63.74% growth rate in DI, well ahead of the NCAA (-20.67%) and NACDA (-11.11%). (link)

D1Baseball’s Bradley Smart explores the unique challenges of reclassifying from DII or DIII to DI, noting that the number of DI programs has increased from 284 in 2005 to 308 today, with New Haven and La Salle among the most recent additions. New Haven HC Chris Celano, whose program is joining the NEC, notes that while the jump provides access to a "higher caliber player," the primary recruiting obstacle remains the mandatory postseason ban, which California Baptist HC Gary Adcock called the "biggest hurdle" to overcome. Despite the perception of a massive talent gap, Le Moyne HC Scott Cassidy argues the biggest differentiator is depth—specifically in the bullpen and bottom of the lineup—rather than top-end talent. “You get into a bullpen at a mid-major DI and you’re still going to see some guys. You get deep into a bullpen in DII and that’s where things start to get a little bit noticeable. I think the depth in the pitching staff is one of the biggest things.” St. Thomas HC Chris Olean emphasizes finding a niche: “Our lane is we’re 90% retention and a four-year development school. If you lose a few at the top, a few at the bottom, you’re still in an okay place. I think it’s really just trying to stick to who you are and trust your ability to coach and do your job. Especially for a transitioning school, the best advice I would give them is don’t try to win like everybody else. Figure out how you need to win at your school with your strengths and weaknesses, find your niche, and dive into it.” (link)

Nebraska is proposing to buy out its longtime partner, Clarkson Regional Health Services, for $500M to gain full control of Nebraska Medicine, the primary clinical partner of the university's medical center. The Omaha World-Herald’s Julie Anderson reports the deal, which also includes an estimated $300M for Clarkson-owned real estate, faces opposition from Nebraska Medicine's board, which labeled it a "state takeover" using taxpayer funds. University leaders, however, framed the move as strategic alignment, stating in an email to faculty that “shifting to a new structure aligns us with many of our peer institutions, including those in the Big Ten, and allows us to continue and build upon our mission of providing world-class medical care across Nebraska and beyond.” The university insists the transaction would be financed through debt and asset monetization rather than state or academic funds. (link)

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Atlanta Falcons have tapped ZRG Partners to assist on their HC search and Sportsology Group to assist on their GM search. (link)

New Colorado AD Fernando Lovo stays in headlines, says creating a premier game day fan experience will be a critical focus for the Buffs: “I’m fanatical about the game day experience. It’s something that I took from my time at the University of Texas. I saw how impactful it was to create. It’s not just a game. It’s got to be an event. It’s got to be engaging. It’s got to be dynamic.” More: “We’ve got to be creative with our scripting of our in-game scripts to keep people involved. It’s not enough just to say, ‘Hey, come watch a game.’ That’s not the way we’re going to approach things. We’re going to look at how do we do things outside the venue? Inside the venue? … Make parking ingress really easy, really convenient for them; getting into the building really easy. …We need to create a really exciting environment, and like I said, make it really fun and engaging for our fans, so that if people are in the stands and they’re loud, it has a tangible impact on winning and losing; it just does. That’s undeniable, so we’re going to work really hard at that.” (link)

More from East Carolina AD Jon Gilbert, this time on tampering in college football: “Given the way the player acquisition rules are today, you get these bigger programs, they're not talking to the player directly, they're talking to their agents or their parents or their high school coach and going, ‘Hey, if he gets in, here's what we will pay him.’ And you know, everyone that's played a sport knows, your last play could be literally your last play. And so, everyone's rushing around to get the most money that they can get. … We’ve got to continue to try to get the rules changed where there's a little more stability in player acquisition. There really are, I would call it, very lawless rules right now that I would hope at some point in the future we can change for the good of college football. [I’m] all for players making money and all for them being able to transfer once, but we need to put some rules in place to protect us because, right now, there is little to no protection for the institutions and that's across the board, not just ECU.” (link)

Hawai’i AD Matt Elliott provides perspective on how he’s adjusted to the job over his first six months in the big chair. Elliott: “It's been a major transition but … it's actually way better than I thought it was going to be. …  It was such an uncertain time when [he and his wife] thought ‘okay we're going to make this transition, have this incredible opportunity and you just don't know. How are the seasons going to go? How are we going to be received? How would the early decisions that we make sort of resonate with the community? Overall, I think … we've been incredibly fortunate to be part of a program that was certainly, especially in football, on the ascendancy and moving in a place that just was creating such pride and joy for the community. Again, I think it comes back to the community and the relationships that we've been able to build in these first few months, and at the same time, we're just so happy to be here … and it's just wonderful for our family.” (link)

In the hyper-nomadic world of college athletics, the coach takes the job, but the spouse often takes on the chaos. In more than 70% of relocations, the spouse is the project manager who bears the brunt of the administrative burden: coordinating movers, selling the old house, finding schools, and managing the emotional toll—all while the coach is immersed in their new role. D1.relocation understands this critical imbalance. The organization doesn't just move boxes; it empowers the spouse. The dedicated Director of Relocation Operations (DORO) acts as the spouse's advocate, providing specialized support for everything from decluttering and home staging to school vetting and amenity setup. D1.relocation ensures the entire family transitions from one chapter to the next with minimal stress and maximum support. (link)

The Tulsa World’s Bill Haisten reports Oklahoma State has landed North Texas transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker for a deal worth $3.5M next year & $4M in year two, which is comparable to what new Pokes HC Eric Morris will make in Stillwater. Here’s the kicker: “The World is told that a single donor — an Oklahoma City-area person — has agreed to fund the entirety of the Cowboy relationship with Mestemaker.” (link)

Ole Miss will have outgoing OC Charlie Weis Jr. for at least one more CFP game, but Running Backs Coach Kevin Smith will not return to Oxford as he transitions to the LSU staff. Tight Ends Coach Joe Cox, Wide Receivers Coach George McDonald, Analyst Dan Stevens (quarterbacks) and Graduate Assistant Sawyer Jordan (slot receivers) are not expected, as of Saturday, to return to Ole Miss, sources told CBS Sports. Rebels HC Pete Golding, still unsure when he’ll receive clarity on the staffing situation, notes: “It's grown people making decisions, so I have no idea. So we're gonna go out there and spot the ball. We've got plenty enough people in this building that showed up this morning. We'll be just fine.” Ole Miss departs for the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday. (link)

Duke will promote Chief Football Strategy Officer Binuk Kodituwakku to GM. (link)

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini writes on the upcoming coaching carousel in the NFL & of particular note: “Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman seriously considered making the jump to the NFL, with multiple teams reaching out to gauge his interest, according to league sources. Though Freeman ultimately announced he’s staying at Notre Dame, there’s a strong belief around the league that this won’t be the last time his name is connected to NFL opportunities. The Giants, Titans and Browns all had internal discussions about Freeman, as did the Pittsburgh Steelers (in the event longtime coach Mike Tomlin decided to step away).” (link)

The ACC has issued a public reprimand of Notre Dame Men’s Basketball HC Micah Shrewsberry following an incident between him and an official at the end of the Fighting Irish's loss at Cal on Friday. Shrewsberry charged at official Adam Flore, but was intercepted and held back by players and staff members. He declined to speak to the media after the game, but did issue an apology later: “My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators. I will learn from this lack of judgement and be better in the future. I want to apologize to our team, our University and its leaders, to Coach Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable.” The league’s statement: “Shrewsberry aggressively confronted a member of the officiating crew following the game. The unsportsmanlike behavior that was displayed is unacceptable and tarnishes the on-court play between these institutions. The ACC considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.” (link)

Our deepest condolences to the Jayhawk community as Kansas Dir. of Peak Performance and Leadership Scott “Scooter” Ward passed away Saturday at the age of 59. (link)

ESPN has assigned the announcers for the College Football Playoff semifinals: Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the Fiesta Bowl between Miami (FL) and Ole Miss on Thursday, while Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will call the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana on Friday. Fowler and Herbstreit will have the championship game call for ESPN on Jan. 19. (link)

The latest issue of CRO.ticker “makes wine fun again,” breaks down the Buffalo Bills’ personal seat license success, and explores the "virtuous cycle" implemented by the Denver Broncos that led to the team’s lowest no-show rate in 10 years. In addition, The Economist explains why sportsbooks are "80–90% certain" of a customer's lifetime value before a single wager is placed, and Inc.com’s Ali Donaldson surveys CMOs from the publication’s "Best in Business" honorees list to get their marketing predictions for 2026. All that and more in the first CRO.ticker of 2026. (link)

With a Jan. 9 deadline looming for a new collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, the two sides remain far apart on key issues including the make-up of a revenue sharing system, what should be considered revenue and how to account for expenses. Per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, “the WNBA is projecting that a recent proposal from the WNBPA -- which would give players about 30% of gross revenue and is believed to feature approximately a $10.5M salary cap -- would result in $700M in losses over the course of the agreement,” potentially jeopardizing the league’s financial well-being. The union believes its revenue sharing model still puts the league in a "profitable position" … and calls the league's projected loss figure "absolutely false," citing a discrepancy in whether expansion fees are factored in. The league has proposed a system where players would receive in excess of 50% of net revenue, essentially defined as revenue after subtracting expenses, but WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has said the league's revenue share model is “not adequate.” More. (link) 

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Job openings by discipline, posted in the past 15 days...

Learning Specialist (The George Washington University / Washington, DC): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Athletics Director for Football Academics (Texas A&M University / College Station, TX): More details HERE.

 

Student Services Coordinator (Vanderbilt University / Nashville, TN): More details HERE.

Assistant Director/Coordinator of Business Operations & Payables (University of Arkansas / Fayetteville, AR): More details HERE.

 

Sr. Associate/Executive Sr. Associate AD/Leadership and Culture Development (University of North Texas / Denton, TX): More details HERE.

 

Sr. Executive Associate AD, Business Strategy & Capital Projects (University of Miami / Coral Gables, FL): More details HERE.

 

Associate Athletic Director, Business Administration (Florida State University / Tallahassee, FL): More details HERE.

 

Chief Financial Officer (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): More details HERE.

Assistant Men's Tennis Coach (University of Texas – San Antonio / San Antonio, TX): More details HERE.

 

Director of Recruiting Strategy (University of Oklahoma / Norman, OK): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): More details HERE.

 

Director of Scouting and Player Personnel (Florida International University / Miami, FL): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Coach, Men's Soccer (Butler University / Indianapolis, IN): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Coach - Women's Lacrosse (Eastern Michigan University / Ypsilanti, MI): More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director, Marketing (University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa, AL): More details HERE.

 

Director of Creative Services (University of Central Arkansas / Conway, AR): More details HERE.

 

Coordinator, Digital & Social Media (Big Ten Conference / Rosemont, IL): More details HERE

 

Associate Director - Athletic Communications/Creative Services/Graphic Design (Middle Tennessee State University / Murfreesboro, TN): More details HERE

 

Creative Geniuses! (University of Nevada / Reno, NV): Whatever your creative discipline, send us a note, resume and/or portfolio directly to: jshoji@unr.edu

There are currently no job listings in this field.

Assistant Athletics Director, Eagles Club (Florida Gulf Coast University / Fort Myers, FL): More details HERE.

 

Director of Development (United States Air Force Academy / Colorado Springs, CO): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Director of Development, Athletics (University of California – San Diego / La Jolla, CA): More details HERE.

 

Dir., Philanthropic Giving - Southeast (United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee / Miami, FL): More details HERE.

Dir., Philanthropic Giving - Northeast (NYC) (United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee / New York City, NY): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Director, External Relations (University of Delaware / Newark, DE): More details HERE.

Sr. Associate/Executive Sr. Associate AD/Leadership and Culture Development (University of North Texas / Denton, TX): More details HERE.

 

Sr. Executive Associate AD, Business Strategy & Capital Projects (University of Miami / Coral Gables, FL): More details HERE.

 

Chief Financial Officer (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): More details HERE.

Senior Athletics Operations Associate, Mount Vernon Athletic Facilities and Barcroft Park (The George Washington University / Washington, DC): More details HERE.

 

Athletics Groundskeeper (Florida Gulf Coast University / Fort Myers, FL): More details HERE.

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Athletic Trainer (University of South Carolina – Upstate / Spartanburg, SC): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Director, Behavioral Health & Performance (Tulane University / New Orleans, LA): More details HERE.

 

Director, Strength and Conditioning (The George Washington University / Washington, DC): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Athletic Trainer (Swim & Dive) (San Diego State University / San Diego, CA): More details HERE.

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Senior Director of Ticket Operations (Texas A&M University 12th Man Foundation / College Station, TX): More details HERE.

 

Assistant Director of Ticket Operations (Texas A&M University 12th Man Foundation / College Station, TX): More details HERE.

 

Associate Director of Ticket Services (East Carolina University / Greenville, NC): More details HERE.