#10: UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt sits down with Wisconsin-Superior’s Eye of the Swarm podcast to discuss the state of the league, expansion, sport sponsorship and more. On the state of the conference, he says the league is “doing okay” given the broader challenges for higher education, adding: “I won't sit here and tell you that we have eight thriving institutions as far as full members. I don't think there's many conferences that probably could say that all of their members are thriving right now, so I don't think we're unique in that aspect or alone and in that regard. A lot of our institutions are doing some really good things to try to be just creative, diversifying, trying to help them in terms of unique programs, adding different programs that hopefully can combat some of the demographic challenges.” Borchardt says the league wants to continue to expand, with one application under consideration for the UMAC. The conference will roll out a total rebrand this summer that will potentially coincide with the launch of the UMAC Network. While institutions wrestle with adding new sports versus investing in current sports, the UMAC does not have plans to change its sport offering and will focus on enhancing its current offering. With the addition of Men’s Volleyball for Minnesota high schools, Borchardt says the “train is coming faster than some people may realize.” More. (link)
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#9: WashU hires Wisconsin (DI) Men’s Soccer AC & Recruiting Coordinator Andrew Bordelon as HC. (link) |
#8: Rochester welcomes back alumnus & former FC Dallas (MLS) AC Ben Cross as the Yellowjackets’ new Men’s Soccer HC. (link) |
#7: Regent (NCCAA) has been accepted for an exploratory year of membership in DIII in 2024-25. AD Michael Allen: "Receiving the invitation for exploratory membership is the next step in attaining our end goal of full membership in NCAA Division III. We know there is still much to be done. However, we are excited to walk down this God-ordained path. We appreciate the guidance from the NCAA and our sponsoring institution, Christopher Newport University. The needle is definitely moving here at Regent." (link)
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#6: Keystone is no longer pursuing an ownership change with the Washington Institute for Education and Research. (link) |
#5: NCAA CMO Brian Hainline announces his retirement, effective May 31. Hainline, who was appointed as the NCAA’s first chief medical officer in 2013, also founded and oversaw the NCAA Sport Science Institute. (link)
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#4: Northland launches a fundraising campaign to raise $12M by April 3 to remain open beyond this year, stating “If the funding goals are not met, the College will be forced to begin the closure process at the end of this academic year.” More from NC: “Funds raised will be used to support a transition year (the 2024-2025 academic year) and the exploration and creation of a new Northland model. The current academic year will continue as planned.” Board of Trustees Chair Ted Bristol: “Northland College has reached a critical crossroad. We believe we can reinvent Northland, carrying forward our legacy and advancing our mission in a meaningful way. But that will only be possible with the funding in place.” (link)
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#3: Albion selects Young Harris (DII) AD Jennifer Rushton as its next AD, starting June 1. President Wayne Webster: “It was clear through this process that Jennifer brings the experience and competitive desire to be successful not only in terms of wins and losses but also in making sure we are succeeding in supporting and mentoring our student-athletes for life after Albion. I have no doubt she brings all the skills necessary to strengthen our legacy of athletic success and support campus-wide initiatives around academic excellence and student success. Her passion to win and her care for her coaches and students, and how she thinks strategically on ways to best support their success shined through in her reference calls and in conversations she had with campus partners.” (link)
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#2: Fontbonne announces it will close at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. President Nancy Blattner: “This difficult decision was not made lightly. Despite the best efforts of faculty, staff, administration and our faithful supporters, we have faced challenges, including more than 15 years of enrollment decline heading into the enrollment cliff, the impact of COVID, and many other financial struggles impacting small, private institutions like ours across the nation.” Per the St. Louis Business Journal's Nathan Rubbelke: “Neighboring Washington University will purchase Fontbonne’s 16-acre campus 'in the coming months' as part of a purchase agreement, Fontbonne officials said. A sale price was not disclosed. Washington U, in a statement Monday, said it has no definitive plans for the site.” (link, link); D3sports’ Patrick Coleman adds context: “Word from Fontbonne is they expect to field their athletics teams next year, but they are not allowed to bring in any new student-athletes. Based on how the year went at Cabrini this year, it seems unlikely that they will field all of their teams.” (link)
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#1: Penn State Berks AD Lisa Deibler is no longer leading the Nittany Lions after nearly 15 years at the helm. (link, link)
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