#10: Arkansas Monticello launches The Legacy Campaign, a five-phase facility improvement project. Areas of need include lights and locker rooms for softball and baseball, softball dugouts, football locker room, upgrades to Steelman Field House, athletic offices and golf resources, scoreboards for basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball, as well as football stadium renovations. AD/FB HC Hud Jackson: “Everybody needs to benefit. [...] We’ve been very fortunate with a group of donors who continue to want to give. [...] Our goal is to get 250 former student-athletes to give $1,000 a year. [...] If we can do that, we feel like we can generate a half a million dollars every year.” (link)
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#9: Southwest Baptist Asst. AD for Operations & Facilities Robbie Shay is no longer with the Bearcats. (link) |
#8: Limestone Interim President Monica Baloga has resigned and will be succeeded by VP for Finance and Administration Jeremy Whitaker to serve as Acting President. (link) |
#7: The CIAA taps Queens (NY) Assoc. AD for Internal Operations Jaime Browne as Assoc. Commissioner for Governance & Compliance. (link) |
#6: Burnout is an increasingly common problem among SIDs, Extra Points publisher Matt Brown observes. He cites as an example Anderson SID Randy Jones, who recently stepped down and said on his way out: “I haven't embraced the rising expectations that have been placed on SIDs or athletic communicators. … Over the past few years, quality people have left the profession in droves because of the expectations caused by additional responsibilities and the ever-expanding student-athlete number on campuses, they were simply overloaded. … Unfortunately, a lot of resources and most of the focus now is on hype – seven-second video clips and poorly worded social media posts, which are a lot of flash and not much substance. No one has the time – or wants to – or has the ability – to write student-athletes’ stories anymore.” Brown’s tweet has been quote-tweeted over 100 times, mostly by people who agree with Jones, and Brown notes: “If we see mass burnout or disengagement of quality SIDs, the athlete experience and the fan experience will get worse. And in the long run, that will hurt far more than the dopamine rush of any viral tweet can help.” (link)
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#5: Arkansas Tech dismisses President Dr. Robin E. Bowen, who is out on medical leave. Acting interim President Russell Jones will continue to lead the institution. (link) |
#4: Collegiate Consulting assisted West Georgia with a 266-page feasibility study as the Wolves considered a DI jump, which went official over the past week. Notably: “Collegiate Consulting projected UWG current athletic budget of $10.5 million would witness a 59% increase by FY2029. Student-athlete financial aid is projected to increase by 75 scholarships. Over the next six years, sports operating budgets will increase by nearly $1 million and is projected to add 8 – 10 positions, both administrative and coaches.” (link)
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#3: The DII Committee on Infractions finds that Findlay improperly certified eligibility for 82 student-athletes across 11 sports over the course of three years. Penalties include three years probation, a $2,500 fine and vacation of records from contests in which the ineligible student-athletes competed. The case was processed through the negotiated resolution process. (link)
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#2: The contest between Delta State and Chowan was ended early by officials following a sideline brawl between the teams. (link); As a result, six student-athletes have been suspended, with one suspended for the rest of the season and barred from traveling and the stadium. One individual has also been banned for the rest of the season. Chowan is conducting a game management and security review. (link)
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#1: Shepherd AD Chauncey Winbush will depart to become the Deputy AD/Chief of Staff at Miami (OH) (DI). President Mary Hendrix: “We appreciate the contributions that Chauncey has made to Shepherd University, including the growth in athletics programs, infrastructure, and fundraising. He has transformed our athletics enterprise by inspiring donors and attracting new sponsors to contribute to an enhanced experience for our student-athletes, campus, and community. Chauncey joined Shepherd in 2016 from the United States Naval Academy. We appreciate his leadership during his tenure with us and share our heartfelt best wishes for his next adventure. He has made Shepherd a better place and he will always be an admired member of our Ram Family.” Former Football HC Monte Cater will serve as Acting AD. (link, link)
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