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Edition #1694

January 12, 2026

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Young Harris AD Aaron Bessey will transition to a new role with advancement as part of YHC’s $56.1M comprehensive campaign. Senior Assoc. AD for Internal Operations/SWA Anna Claire Knight will succeed Bessey as AD. (link)

Edward Waters promotes Deputy AD Ashley Conner to become the Tigers’ next AD. President A. Zachary Faison Jr.: “She has shown us what staying planted looks like. She has shown us what loyalty and action look like. And today, she is not being promoted because she was next. She’s being promoted because she was ready. Her commitment to Edward Waters University is proven. Her resiliency is unmatched. She will find a way or make one.” Parker Executive Search assisted with the process. (link)

NCAA President Charlie Baker visits with Puck’s John Ourand on The Varsity podcast to discuss a number of topics, including his thoughts on the ideal transfer rule. “Everybody should be allowed to transfer once at least, right? I think you should be allowed to transfer again if there's demonstrated some sort of exigent circumstance. … If the coach moves, kids should be allowed to move, period. End of discussion. … I think after that, it has to be really special circumstances, and I think we’ve got to pay a lot of attention to how they're doing academically, because even at that top level we're talking about … 90% of us aren't playing professionally, and the opportunity to get the degree is really going to matter. But I think the right transfer rule is once, no questions asked, can't be in the same season, obviously. Second time, if there's some set of circumstances that would support that, and I think obviously being told you're not part of the next couple of years at our program would be one of those things. But after that, I do believe they need some stability here, and I think a lot of the kids I've talked to have said that. It's funny; the ones that get left behind when there's all this transferring, they speak to the fact that it's hard to create a culture, and it's hard to count on what your team's going to look like and how it's going to work from one year to the next.” More from Baker. (link)

Per SI’s Chris Mannix, NCAA President Charlie Baker met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday to discuss challenges with legalized sports gambling, but more notably “the possibility that players with remaining years of college eligibility could petition the NCAA to return to school after they are drafted.” More from Mannix: “Teams are unabashedly enthusiastic about the chance to incubate picks in the college ranks. ‘Draft and stash’ has been a strategy primarily used in Europe, with teams using second-round picks on international players and letting them develop overseas until they are NBA ready. Sending picks back to college—where they can be more closely monitored in familiar systems under coaches NBA executives have relationships with—would significantly enhance the value of the second round.” (link)

Young Harris will rename its lacrosse and soccer stadium after supporters Art and Tammy Deas as YHC begins a major upgrade to the newly named Art & Tammy Deas Stadium. Additions will include a new 300-seat grandstand, press box, VIP suite, media rooms, concessions area and more. Construction is set to be complete this summer. (link)

Thomas More will discontinue men’s volleyball after this season. AD Terry Connor: “This was a difficult decision, but necessary as we recognize the challenges of conference affiliation as an NCAA sport and increased travel which results in more missed classes. As we begin competition as a full member of the NCAA Division II and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), continuing men's volleyball at a time when relatively few sponsoring institutions exist within our region does not align with the vision of Thomas More Athletics and our commitment to ensuring student-athletes have the very best academic and athletic experience.” (link)

It’s Personnel…
➤ West Texas A&M names Director of Recreational Sports Justin Cornelsen as Senior Assoc. AD for Facilities and Event Operations and Assoc. Director of Recreational Sports Sharon Murdock as Assoc. AD of Business and Administration. (link)
➤ Georgia Southwestern State Senior Assoc. AD Eric Crawford departs to become CFO at New Mexico State (DI). (link)
➤ Young Harris Assoc. AD for External Relations Madison Urquiola is no longer with the college and is now serving as a Universal Banker for United Community. (link)
➤ Central Oklahoma Asst. AD for Compliance Sydni Nelums is no longer in the role. (link)
➤ NACDA elevates Senior Director Nick Strah to serve as VP. (link)

“We push our guys to their maximum potential and if that happens to mean they have to go somewhere else, we’ve done our job.” That’s how Livingstone Football Assoc. HC/Co-DC Mark Williams views handling student-athletes departing for DI opportunities. With four departures since the season ended, Williams tells HBCU Gameday’s Steven J. Gaither: “You kind of have to accept that this is what it is now. Especially after COVID, with the portal going year to year and NIL. … If D1 and D2 all had the same facilities, the same food, the same resources, a lot of these guys would stay. … Big schools are trapped in the portal world. If you’re not top 100, top 300, they’re not even looking at you. So they come and get your best guys.” (link)

Coaches.wire…
➤ Harding hires high school HC Thom Jacquet as its new Men’s Soccer HC. (link)
➤ St. Edward’s Women’s Soccer HC Nick Cowell will retire after 20 seasons leading the Hilltoppers. (link)
➤ Want to know what coaching staffs had movement over the weekend? Check out this morning’s edition of Coaches.wire. (link)

Campus Ink has closed a $3M investment round, highlighted by the participation of former Purdue (DI) Men’s Basketball student-athlete/current Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey as the company’s first former athlete investor. The company also announced the spring launch of Urban Champs, a new lifestyle brand designed to bridge the gap between campus life and professional careers. (link)

The latest edition of CRO.ticker features a look at how NBA franchises are increasingly focusing on monetizing team-captured video content beyond traditional TV deals, the Portland Trail Blazers’ plan to ask the state legislature to redirect an estimated $20M in annual income tax from players and team employees to support a $600M Moda Center renovation, and ChatGPT’s bumpy start towards personal shopping. There’s also this from Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf on how the company is avoiding pitfalls as it moves into investment banking: "History is littered with companies that have tried to build investment banks and have failed. ... They’ve done it without a real competitive advantage. They’ve done it by hiring the wrong people at the wrong pace and focused on doing the wrong business." Lots more – check it out. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Senior Associate Athletic Director or Associate AD (University of Wisconsin – Parkside / Kenosha, WI): The Senior Associate AD or Associate AD - Partnerships & Development leads Athletics’ revenue-generating efforts, including but not limited to sponsorships, fundraising, and ticket sales. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Athletics (Menlo School / Atherton, CA): Menlo School, a leading private independent school in Atherton, California, seeks a mission-focused, inspiring, and strategic leader to serve as the next director of athletics. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Chief Executive Officer (IPTAY / Clemson, SC): The CEO is responsible for providing strategic leadership for IPTAY by working with the Board, Clemson Athletics, and other University leaders to establish long-range goals and strategic priorities. (DI) More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Men's Soccer Coach (College of Staten Island - CUNY / Staten Island, NY): CSI is seeking qualified candidates to lead the men's soccer program. The selected candidate will oversee all aspects of a Division II program in New York City. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Women's Soccer Coach (College of Staten Island - CUNY / Staten Island, NY): CSI is seeking qualified candidates to lead the women's soccer program. The selected candidate will oversee all aspects of a Division II program in New York City. More details HERE.

Commissioner (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Madison, WI): Reporting directly to the Council of Chancellors, the Commissioner serves as the Conference’s chief administrative officer, providing strategic leadership aligned with the WIAC’s mission and values. (DIII) More details HERE.

Athletics Administrative Assistant (University of Mary / Bismarck, ND): The Administrative Assistant provides administrative support to the Athletic Director and the entire athletic department. More details HERE.

Assistant Football Coach - RB Coach/General Manager (Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI): RB Coach/GM is responsible for all phases of the program i.e. administration, student-athlete recruitment, fiscal management, fund raising and pr, and other duties assigned by Head Football Coach. More details HERE.

Head Coach, Women's Soccer (California State University – Stanislaus / Turlock, CA): The Head Women’s Soccer Coach oversees all aspects of the program, supervises assistant coaches, leads recruiting, manages scheduling, budget, and supports fundraising efforts with the AD. More details HERE

Foundation Development Director (MAPGA Foundation / Stafford, VA): Will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to secure financial support for our Foundation in the world of golf. Military and junior golf programs are the lead elements of our programs More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (Minnesota State University – Moorhead / Moorhead, MN): Provides athletic training and health care coordination for student-athletes at Minnesota State Moorhead, covering practices and events, coordinating care, and working with coaches and staff. More details HERE.

Assistant Commissioner for Championships, Administration and External Operations (South Atlantic Conference / Rock Hill, SC): Responsible for the coordination and administration of the Conference’s 24 championships (22 in 2026-27), oversight of sport policy manuals, and leadership of league external operations initiatives. More details HERE.

Head Women's Volleyball Coach (Lubbock Christian University / Lubbock, TX): Manage, direct, and develop all aspects of the institution’s intercollegiate Women's Volleyball program More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Lawrence University / Appleton, WI): The Director of Athletics is responsible for the successful leadership of all facets of the University – the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of all athletics activities. (DIII) More details HERE.

Head Women's Volleyball Coach (Mars Hill University / Mars Hill, NC): The Head Coach oversees all aspects of the Women’s Volleyball program. Mars Hill competes at the NCAA Division II level and is a member of the South Atlantic Conference. More details HERE.

Head Women's Soccer Coach (John Brown University / Siloam Springs, AR): A strong commitment to the importance of discipling students in the Christian faith and to the academic success of the student-athlete. Build on the strong foundation in place for competition! (NAIA) More details HERE.

Athletics Groundskeeper (Florida Gulf Coast University / Fort Myers, FL): The Athletics Groundskeeper is responsible for maintenance and care of the fields and surrounding grounds at the Outdoor Athletic Complexes. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director, Eagles Club (Florida Gulf Coast University / Fort Myers, FL): The Assistant Athletics Director will provide strategic leadership for the Eagles Club, which includes Annual Giving and special events for FGCU Athletics. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director for Football Academics (Texas A&M University / College Station, TX): Texas A&M Athletics is seeking an Assistant Athletics Director for Football Academics to lead academic support operations for the Football program within the Center for Student-Athlete Services. (DI) More details HERE.

Director of Creative Services (University of Central Arkansas / Conway, AR): Lead the creative media efforts for Central Arkansas Athletics, effectively promoting the success, stories, and accomplishments of our 18 Division I athletic programs. (DI) More details HERE.

Coordinator, Digital & Social Media (Big Ten Conference / Rosemont, IL): This position will assist with the execution of the Conference's digital and social media strategy, including social media management, email marketing, website development, and more. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Football Coach - Offensive Coordinator (Pennwest - California / California, PA): Responsible for running the overall offensive system in football including film review, play calling & working with the HC in the development of the offensive side of the ball to excel at D2 level. More details HERE.

Assistant Football Coach - Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach (Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI): Join the 17-time Learfield Director's Cup winning Laker Athletics department anchored in the relentless pursuit of greatness as our next Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator! More details HERE.

Executive Director of Principal Giving, USC Athletics (University of Southern California / Los Angeles, CA): Strategic frontline fundraiser to secure $1M+ gifts for USC Athletics, cultivating elite donors to advance student-athlete experience, facilities, and competitive excellence. (DI) More details HERE.

Men's Head Soccer Coach (John Brown University / Siloam Springs, AR): A strong commitment to the importance of discipling students in the Christian faith and to the academic success of the student-athlete. Build on the strong foundation in place for competition! (NAIA) More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director/Development (Oral Roberts University / Tulsa, OK): Senior Leadership position leading Development, Fundraising, Sponsorships, and Ticketing efforts for Division 1 Athletic Department. (DI) More details HERE.

Women’s Flag Football Head Coach (Newberry College / Newberry, SC): Newberry College (NCAA D2) seeks qualified applicants for Women’s Flag Football Head Coach. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance (University of Texas at Dallas / Richardson, TX): The Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance reports directly to the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and assists in the responsibility for institutional control of NCAA Compliance. More details HERE.

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