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Rust AD Jeremy Patterson departs for the same position at his alma mater, Lane (NCAA DII), after leading the Bearcats since July 2024. (link)

Brescia AD Mark Perdue is no longer in the role after leading the Bearcats since February 2023. (link)

Clarification on the possible NAIA baseball championship expansion that could go before the NAC later this month: the number of opening rounds and teams that will go to the World Series will decrease from ten to eight. (link)

Sportico’s John Cairney and Rick Burton analyze the rise of AI and its sudden shift from operational support to a core competitive capability of recruiting operations. In the new world of college athletics where the transfer portal and NIL “have turned recruiting into a transactional, mobile and financially risky enterprise,” and coaches now resemble portfolio managers causing “athletic departments to increasingly rely on general managers and analytics staff … AI promises something every AD wants: fewer bad bets.” A recent Journal of Applied Sport Management piece describes “a recruiting ecosystem where AI tools increasingly shape how athletes are identified, evaluated and pursued,” while adding that “relying on human judgment alone is now inherently risky.” Cairney and Burton: “Athletic directors must decide not only how AI is used, but also who stands behind it when outcomes go wrong. Why? Because ethical aspiration without clear accountability is insufficient for those already under intense public scrutiny. … AI does not simplify leadership; it makes it harder. It raises the stakes, redistributes power and concentrates accountability. ADs must not only lead with better data, but also courageously own decisions made in partnership with machines.” More. (link)

A pair of Urban Edge Network updates from CES 2026. UEN has joined Sonobi Inc. Supply-Side Platform, to help connect advertisers with UEN’s audiences. Founding Member/CEO Hardy Pelt: “Joining the Sonobi SSP is a strategic leap forward in our mission to build a sustainable media ecosystem for the communities we serve. … This partnership allows us to pair that premium, high-engagement inventory with Sonobi’s advanced technology, ensuring brands can connect at scale with audiences that truly matter.” (link); UEN is one of two channels as part of the new Ionic Emerging Channels Fund, with the goal “to invest in, underwrite, and operate the next wave of high-potential FAST channels across the open streaming ecosystem.” More from Pelt: “Our audience is deeply engaged, and it's coming from places that don't always get the spotlight. We're telling those stories through live games and real access, while offering brands a clean, authentic way to show up in moments that fans actually care about. With Ionic, we can grow our distribution footprint and deliver that experience for brands with the standards and consistency they expect in premium CTV.” (link) 

Of note, as the NAIA considers a legislative proposal that would give student-athletes five years of eligibility, Of note, The Field of 68 legal analyst Mitch Gilfillan notes that as the Patterson case unfolds in Nashville, the NCAA emailed all schools: “To the question about whether the Div. I Board would consider issuing a broader waiver if the court grants an injunction for the five student-athletes (Patterson case), there is no plan to do so. The NCAA's eligibility rules are legally defensible and provide opportunities for prospective student-athletes to compete at the Division I level.” (link)

Bethany (KS) has discontinued its men’s wrestling program, effective yesterday. The department cites “consistently low roster numbers,” with the Swedes having a roster of eight student-athletes. (link)

Deal Digest…
➤ IU Columbus partners with Indiana University Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to become its official health care and athletic training services provider. (link)
➤ Lawrence Tech teams up with SoShell to help promote its athletic events in its local community. (link)

Southeastern selects Campbellsville Football HC Jake Russell as the next HC for the Fire. (link)

Coaches.wire…
➤ Arizona Christian elevates AC Caden Toben to Men’s Volleyball HC. (link)
➤ Concordia International names Penn State Harrisburg (NCAA DIII) Men’s Soccer HC Anthony Gehman to the same role with the Rams. (link)
➤ Loyola New Orleans promotes Women’s Volleyball AC Jenna Ibieta to Women’s and Beach Volleyball HC. (link)
➤ This morning’s edition of Coaches.wire is ready for your review. (link)