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Edition #1702

January 30, 2026

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Fairmont State promotes AD Greg Bamberger to VP for Athletics and the Falcons will hire a new AD to oversee day-to-day operations, with the goal of the transition going into effect in July. President Mike Davis: “Greg has been an invaluable leader for Fairmont State Athletics. His strategic insight and relentless dedication have elevated the student‑athlete experience year after year. As we begin implementing our long‑range plan for athletics, we need a leader who not only understands where we are but can clearly see where we must go. Greg has proven time and again that he is ready to guide the growth and achievement for Falcon Athletics.” (link)

It’s “absolutely critical” that any federal law related to college sports includes a provision preventing student-athletes from being deemed employees of their school, per U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who adds that “without it, we will see enormous and irreparable damage to college sports.” In an interview with ESPN’s Dan Murphy, Cruz observed: “Congress might run out of time to act if it can't find a bipartisan solution in the coming months,” with the current divide between Republicans and Democrats over whether college student-athletes should have a future avenue for collective bargaining thus requiring them to be employees. Murphy: “Cruz and NCAA leaders say many smaller schools would not be able to afford their sports teams if athletes had to be paid and receive benefits as employees. However, as lawsuits over player contracts and eligibility rules continue to mount, a growing number of frustrated coaches and athletic directors from major programs say they are open to collective bargaining as a solution.” Asked if creating a distinction between groups of college athletes is a viable compromise for Congress, Cruz told ESPN he does not think “employment status is the answer to this problem.” More. (link)

At its December meeting, the Championships Committee recommended adjusting the access ratio for team sports from 4.0 to 6.0 to not fall below 4.25. This recommendation follows the one-year grace period for sports that fall below the current ratio. The committee “believes maintaining a 4.25 floor when a sport must make adjustments offers long-term stability for the bracket. A current Division II championship that falls below 4.25 may maintain that bracket size until the access ratio falls below 4.0.” Also of note, the committee approved a one-year waiver for the SIAC to retain its men’s tennis AQ with four members competing this season after two members dropped the sport this past summer. (link)

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who sued the NCAA to secure unlimited transfers for collegiate student-athletes now references the unrestricted transfer portal as a “train wreck” and says it is “sucking the life out of college sports,” according to USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer. Skrmetti: “I think the portal is probably the single biggest problem that needs to be solved.” Despite his overall concerns, Skrmetti doesn’t regret fighting to remove the rule and says building a system with better rules is up to college sports leaders and Congress. Skrmetti: “It's not that the NCAA got sued by states. It's that the NCAA was behaving illegally. And so just like with the NIL stuff, it was going to happen, like somebody was going to push back. And the point of the litigation is not to carve in stone the Wild West. It’s to get conclusive rulings that the old ways are broken, and it's time to start creating what the next college sports regime looks like. … I don't think we want state political figures doing that through litigation. I think it really needs to be a conversation between the coaches, the student-athletes, the conferences, the universities, the NCAA leadership, everybody who's involved in this.” More. (link)

NCAA Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management Clint Hangebrauck joined College.town’s Daniel Gelman at the NCAA Convention to discuss several topics, including the association's evolving strategy regarding sports betting. Hangebrauck highlighted the six-month-old partnership with Venmo deployed during major events like the College Football Playoff and March Madness to prevent student-athletes from receiving unsolicited payment requests from angry bettors. "We really came to Venmo because we heard heightened concerns from student-athletes, from schools, around angry betterers using their platform to reach out to student-athletes, request money, harass athletes. ... We have really like heightened digital security efforts that Venmo's put in place where, unfortunately, if you have those big moments that happen, whether it's in the [CFP] or March Madness, they could essentially put almost like a digital shield around athletes that prevents them from getting unsolicited payment requests after some of those big moments happen." While the NCAA continues petitioning state gaming commissions to eliminate risky prop bets (specifically on unders), Hangebrauck noted the growing challenge of monitoring "offshoots" like social betting apps (Fliff) and prediction markets. Additionally, Hangebrauck notes that over 50K student-athletes have completed the NCAA's free sports betting e-learning module to date. Full Q&A. (link)

Introducing: The W Profile, a new twice-weekly publication featuring the women leading at the intersection of sports, media, and global business. From the executive suites of the world’s largest companies to the command centers of iconic brands, we profile the visionaries driving the most significant deals and cultural shifts in the marketplace. Through these stories, we uncover the tactical playbooks and personal convictions of the female executives who are redefining the modern sports and entertainment landscape.

This series reflects our deep commitment to the women in college athletics. As our industry adopts professional structures and evolves into a mainstream corporate enterprise, the lines between the campus and the boardroom have blurred. To thrive in this new era, it is instructive to look to the visionaries who have already mastered the complexities of the corporate world. The W Profile exists to bridge that gap, bringing the lessons of global business to the athletics community and ensuring that as our industry expands, our leaders have the insights necessary to build a lasting legacy.

Edition #1 published Sunday night and highlights Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, who is widely considered the most powerful woman in Hollywood. Walden stands as a top contender to succeed Bob Iger as CEO, meaning Walden would not only lead Disney’s creative and theme park empire but would ultimately oversee ESPN during its most pivotal transition toward a direct-to-consumer future.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE W PROFILE: DANA WALDEN >>

Edition #2 published this morning and spotlights NFL EVP/CRO Renie Anderson, who oversees the league's entire commercial portfolio that generates billions in annual revenue and rose from within the NFL over the last 20 years from entry level to C-suite.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE W PROFILE: RENIE ANDERSON >>

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PUBLICATION >>

Deal Corner…
➤ Conference Carolinas will partner with the Carolina Panthers to host a women’s flag football kickoff at the Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium. (link)
➤ Franklin Pierce partners with Influxer to support co-branded NIL merchandise opportunities for student-athletes. (link)
➤ Central Oklahoma and West Texas A&M will play a home-and-home football series in 2028 (Canyon) and 2029 (Edmond). (link)

It’s Personnel…
➤ Kentucky Wesleyan hires former Davenport/Malone Softball HC Kathryn Bzdafka as Asst. AD for Compliance, Student Services and Sport Administration and William Woods (NAIA) GA Ryan Sierocki as Asst. AD for Internal Operations and Athletic Marketing. (link, link)
➤ Bemidji State promotes Director of Athletic Giving and Sponsorships Jesse Katz to Asst. AD for Development and Sponsorships. (link)

Coaches.wire…
➤ Ashland Women’s Volleyball HC Katie Kuhn resigns after three seasons. (link)
➤ Chico State selects Bushnell (NAIA) Women’s Soccer HC Halle Meadows as its next HC. (link)
➤ Lake Erie Women’s Volleyball HC Calaeb Haire departs for new professional opportunities. (link)
➤ Lake Superior State taps Adams State AC Chelsea Cooke-Tripp as the Lakers’ new Women’s Volleyball HC. (link)
➤ Rogers State Women’s Soccer HC Chris Jones steps down to accept a coaching and teaching position at a nearby high school. (link)
➤ William Jewell hires Colorado Colorado Springs Assoc. HC Keith Buderus as its new Men’s Soccer HC. (link)
➤ Twenty-seven sports had coaching staff changes the back half of this week, paced by football. Check out all the moves via this morning’s edition of Coaches.wire. (link)

Interested in advertising a job opening in D2.ticker? Click here to submit your position. Post your department-wide openings with CollegeSports.jobs, where thousands of administrators coaches get news and updates about the world of college sports.

(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Assistant Football Coach/WR Coach - Athletics (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 Football Coach/WR Coach. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Strength & Conditioning Coach (University of Missouri – St. Louis / St. Louis, MO): This position is responsible for the development and implementation of sport-specific strength and conditioning programs designed to support athletic performance, injury prevention, and well-being. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Coach - Volleyball (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Plans and directs the activities, conditioning of student athletes, assesses players skills and assigns team positions, evaluates own and opposition team capabilities to determine game strategy. More. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Compliance Manager (University of Alaska – Anchorage / Anchorage, AK): The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Department of Athletics is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Compliance Manager More details HERE.

Coordinator of Executive Services (University of Mary / Bismarck, ND): The Coordinator of Executive Services serves as the primary manager of Executive Services, providing high-level administrative leadership and project management. More details HERE.

Executive Support Specialist (University of Mary / Bismarck, ND): The Executive Support Specialist serves the University of Mary's Executive Services by providing comprehensive administrative, logistical, and hospitality support. More details HERE.

Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Branding Officer (University of Houston / Houston, TX): Reporting to the VP for Athletics, the Chief Brand Officer leads all brand, marketing, communications, and content for UH Athletics, driving fan engagement, partnerships, and revenue growth. (DI) More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Executive Director of Cougar Pride (University of Houston / Houston, TX): Leads all athletic fundraising efforts, overseeing major, annual, premium seating, and sport-specific giving while collaborating with senior leaders to maximize revenue and engagement. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Volleyball Coach (Chadron State College / Chadron, NE): Analyzes performance and instructs student athletes in game strategies and techniques to prepare them for athletic competition. Recruit student athletes. More details HERE.

Assistant Coach, Track and Field (Western New Mexico University / Silver City, NM): Assist in coaching and developing WNMU Men’s & Women’s Track & Field programs in Silver City, NM. Support recruiting, training, and mentoring student-athletes while promoting academic success. More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Trainer (2) (Western New Mexico University / Silver City, NM): Provide athletic training services for WNMU student-athletes in Silver City, NM. Assist with injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and daily sports medicine operations. More details HERE.

Student-Athlete Academic Services: Academic Fellowship (Florida State University / Tallahassee, FL): FSU is offering multiple 1-year Student-Athlete Academic Services Fellowships (May 2026-May 2027), focusing on academic advising, NCAA eligibility, support services, and holistic student development. (DI) 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.

Head Coach - Men's Soccer (Colorado State University – Pueblo / Pueblo, CO): This position is responsible for leadership of a championship-caliber program and will create a culture that aligns with the vision of the department while leading our NCAA DII men's soccer team. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (Colorado State University – Pueblo / Pueblo, CO): CSU Pueblo Athletics seeks a full-time Assistant Athletic Trainer with experience across multiple sports and a strong commitment to providing high-quality, student-athlete – centered care. More details HERE.

Head Women's Volleyball Coach (Caldwell University / Caldwell, NJ): The Head Coach is responsible for directing, supervising and overseeing all activities of the coaching staff and team. More details HERE.

Position Title: Director of Athletic Compliance (Lackawanna College / Scranton, PA): The Director of Athletic Compliance will play a critical role in supporting the College’s transition from the NJCAA to NCAA membership. More details HERE.

Performance Nutrition Program Director Football (University of Kansas / Lawrence, KS): Under the direction of the Head Team Physician, the Sports Nutritionist is responsible for providing nutritional counseling and education services to Football Student-Athletes. (DI) More details HERE.

Kinesiology Faculty & Head Football Coach (Full-time, Tenure-Track) (Monterey Peninsula College / Monterey, CA): Monterey Peninsula College seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in Kinesiology and Head Football Coach. (3C2A) More details HERE.

Kinesiology Faculty & Head Women's Basketball or Softball Coach (Full-time, Tenure-track) (Monterey Peninsula College / Monterey, CA): Monterey Peninsula College seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in Kinesiology and Head Coach for Women's Basketball or Softball. (3C2A) More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance - Tenure Track (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania / Kutztown, PA): The position reports to the Athletic Director and is responsible for ensuring departmental compliance with all Kutztown University, NCAA, and PSAC rules and regulations. More details HERE.

Athletic Trainer (Hillsdale College / Hillsdale, MI): The position of Athletic Trainer will work under the direction of the Assistant AD-Sports Medicine and the Head Athletic Trainer to provide recognition, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries. More details HERE.

Strength & Conditioning Coach (Hillsdale College / Hillsdale, MI): The Strength and Conditioning Coach is responsible for developing and managing student-athletes and teams in a safe environment, in accordance with the values and mission of Hillsdale College. More details HERE.

Vice President and Director of Athletics (University of New Mexico / Albuquerque, NM): UNM seeks a Vice President & Director of Athletics to lead 18 Division I programs, advancing academic, competitive, and ethical excellence while elevating the Lobos’ national profile. (DI) More details HERE. The D1.dossier for this position is available HERE.

Director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services (University of Arkansas at Little Rock / Little Rock, AR): Little Rock Athletics is in search of a Director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services. This position will manage the overall coordination of all academic services of Little Rock’s athletes. (DI) More details HERE.

Football Coach (Campbellsville University / Campbellsville, KY): Campbellsville University is seeking a Head Coach for our NAIA nationally ranked football program. (NAIA) More details HERE.

Head Men’s Soccer Coach/Physical Education & Wellness Instructor (Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT / Cambridge, MA): This is a full-time, 10-month appointment that will include the management and oversight of the men's soccer program. (DIII) More details HERE.

Faculty Athletic Training/Kinesiology (University of Mary / Bismarck, ND): The Assistant Professor for Athletic Training/Kinesiology reports to the Athletic Training and Kinesiology Department Chair. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Wilson College / Chambersburg, PA): The director of athletics provides visionary and strategic leadership for the comprehensive NCAA Division III athletics program and the varsity Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) teams. (DIII) More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Western Colorado University / Gunnison, CO): Western Colorado University invites energetic, collaborative, and visionary professionals to apply for the position of Director of Athletics at a nationally recognized NCAA DII athletics program. More details HERE.

Assistant Coach - Football - Offensive Coordinator (Seton Hill University / Greensburg, PA): To serve in a full-time capacity as Assistant Coach of the University’s Men’s Football program. This position will specifically serve as Assistant Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator. More details HERE.

Head Men's Soccer Coach (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Division II Head Men's Soccer Coach - playoff caliber team competing in the highly regarded Mountain East Conference looking for someone to continue the quest for a conference championship. More details HER

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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