#10: Effective next fall, West Texas A&M intends to not charge students for textbooks. (link) |
#9: Nebraska Kearney and Wayne State (NE) were the opening act for a Volleyball Day showcase that set a new record attendance for a women’s sporting event with 92,003 fans inside Memorial Stadium at Nebraska (DI). (link); Have a look at the atmosphere inside the stadium. Incredible. (link, link)
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#8: Wingate will host the 2023 Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships this December after the event had to be moved from Chattanooga, TN due to facility construction. (link) |
#7: Conference Carolinas rolls out a three-division model (Northwest, Southwest, East) for Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Softball, as well as a conference-only KPI for determining conference tourney seeding. Commissioner Chris Colvin: “It has been a priority since the beginning of my time in our amazing league for us to continue to find ways to uniquely position ourselves regionally and nationally, while, at the same time, benefitting our membership as they look to fulfill their missions. This model helps us accomplish two key goals of the Board of Directors - to reduce travel and promote regional rivalries. The utilization of KPI with the partnership with Abakus, LLC through Faktor will also allow us to continue to lead the way in the area.” (link)
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#6: In a story by the AP’s Tim Booth on the nearly non-existent presence of DII Football on the west coast, Western Oregon AD Randi Lydum takes the glass-half-full approach to the Wolves repeatedly having to travel to other time zones: “That’s the biggest challenge, financially, but it’s also a really great opportunity for our department and our university because we’re very visible on the entire West Coast and down into Texas. I try to tell people that we’re like walking billboards when you see a football team walking through an airport and they’re all wearing their Western Oregon University gear.” Utah Tech (DI) (formerly Dixie State during its DII days) AD Ken Beazer provides his perspective being with the school since 2015: “There isn’t any appetite for Division II athletics in the state of Utah or the surrounding area. There’s just not. People can’t even tell you about Division II programs. Now in the Midwest or back East, Division II, I think, has some street cred. I think it has some viability and some equity. Out here, it does not athletically. And we found that out.” On the financial front, both Central Washington and WOU will have FB travel budgets north of $400K, with the pair offering 28-29 and 13-14 scholarships, respectively. (link)
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#5: Barton names former West Virginia Wesleyan/Mary Washington (DIII) AD Ken Tyler, who is currently serving as the Senior Advancement Officer for Major Gifts at Episcopal High School, as its new VP for Athletics. President Douglas Searcy: "Mr. Tyler is a consummate professional who is deeply committed to students and student learning. He has led successfully at the Division II and Division III levels and has a proven record of developing champions on and off the field. His focus has always been on student success, winning on the field and court, while growing excellent citizens and scholars." (link)
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#4: The NCAA released the list of its 2023-24 Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant Recipients. (link) |
#3: As Chowan transitions to a “life skills university,” it unveils a new learning model that will have students concentrate on two classes at a time, four days per week, for seven-week sessions. (link) |
#2: Central Missouri hires Northwest Missouri State Assoc. AD for Compliance/SWA Lori Hopkins as its new Assoc. VP for Athletics. (link) |
#1: Mercyhurst selects Asst. AD/Baseball HC Joe Spano as its next AD after 24 years in Erie. Vice President for Student Life Laura Zirkle: "Joe's success on the field and in the community as well as his for Mercyhurst University line up well with the University's comprehensive vision for athletics. Joe is a proven winner. I'm excited to work with Joe in his new role to bring our athletic department to new heights." (link)
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