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More from Western Colorado AD Miles Van Hee’s AD in Residence as he touches on the state of DII and his process for hiring head coaches having spent two decades as the Mountaineers’ Wrestling HC. “We look for coaches that can truly lead. Coaches that understand what it takes to be successful at the D2 level have the passion, work ethic and vision to create a culture of belonging and character. As the great John Wooden has said, ‘Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.’ We all need to check our egos at the door and do what’s best for our student-athletes. Character is what you really are; your reputation is merely what others think you are. We’re looking to hire coaches that truly want to make an impact on our university and be ambassadors for their sport or position. … Our coaches must wear many hats; however, character trumps all. At Western, coaches must also be great recruiters and understand how to utilize the resources they have and build relationships to expand their resources. In addition, great coaches must have outstanding relationships with their athletes.” On changes he would like to see for DII: “I feel overall, DII is in a good spot. I would like to see the amateurism of DII held to a reasonable extent and keep the playing field level as much as possible by continuing the current model of capped scholarship equivalencies. I would also like to see DII eliminate the transfer portal but continue to allow student-athletes to transfer without penalty if they are in good academic standing. For the student-athletes not in good academic standing, I’d love to see a realistic standard met of transferable credits to make sure the student-athlete stays on schedule to graduate.” More on BOSCA. (link)

House Happenings:

+ In the revised House settlement agreement by attorneys yesterday the “basic reporting, clearinghouse and arbitration processes would remain as originally proposed, but the settlement now would do away with the term ‘booster’ and replace it with the term ‘Associated Entity or Individual,’” according to USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz. According to the lawyers, this constitutes “a narrower, more targeted, and objectively defined category that does not automatically sweep in ‘today’s third-party donor.’” Despite the removal of the term “booster,” Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger notes that it remains, “in essence, part of the settlement. Attorneys replaced the term with more specific terminology and parameters, including: Only deals involving a narrowed set of people closely affiliated with schools will be subject to the clearinghouse and enforcement process. For example, deals with commercial third parties, like shoe companies or apparel brands, are exempt from enforcement.” Deals with individuals whose families have provided less than $50K in support to a particular institution will also be exempt. Additionally, the filing clarifies that no deals will be prohibited under the settlement that are not already prohibited currently. Dellenger: “The amendment may pave the way for some school-affiliated boosters and collectives to survive, at least in a limited capacity. However, in all likelihood, those donating to collective efforts are likely to be considered a ‘set of people closely affiliated with schools,’ which would require them to clear their NIL deals through the clearinghouse.” Berkowitz points out that “Associated Entity or Individual” is defined by meeting any one of five criteria, including the following which appears to cover collectives: “An entity that is or was known (or should have been known) to the athletics department staff… to exist, in significant part, for the purpose of promoting or supporting a particular” school’s athletics program or athletes and/or “creating or identifying NIL opportunities solely for a particular” school’s athletes.” One source tells Berkowitz that U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken could schedule another hearing or simply decide whether to grant preliminary approval based on the filings. (link, link)

+ The NCAA sent a letter to members regarding yesterday’s amended House settlement filing. It reads, in part: “The plaintiffs have been working collaboratively with NCAA counsel and conference defendant counsel on the content of [the] brief. The brief addresses the questions raised by the court in three key areas: how third-party [NIL] issues would be regulated; the ability to commit future student-athletes to the settlement structure for a period of 10 years; whether the lawyers for the plaintiffs met their ethical obligations by representing both a damages class and an injunctive class. … With this clarification and explanation of the proposed settlement, we believe preliminary approval should be granted.” (link)

NCAA President Charlie Baker writes on X: “We continue to see evidence of dysfunction in today’s NIL environment, including examples of promises made but not kept to student-athletes. Just as anyone that owns stock or buys a house is afforded basic consumer protections, it's clear that student-athletes entering NIL contracts should be too. That’s exactly why we provide student-athletes with a template contract and recommended, fair terms through our new NIL Assist platform. While we’d love to see these resources used to protect student-athletes in every NIL deal, it’s not something the NCAA has the authority to mandate. In the meantime, we’re continuing to advocate for Congress to create national NIL guidelines that will protect student-athletes from exploitation, including the use of standard contracts. (link)

Davenport and Ferris State have created a formal football rivalry, which will be known as the Calder City Classic. Every third year, starting in 2026, the matchup will take place at a neutral site around Grand Rapids. Davenport AD Paul Lowden: “‘The Calder’ is a symbol of Grand Rapids artistic spirit and civic pride. It is only fitting that two historical West Michigan universities battle on the gridiron to win the Calder City Classic trophy. Davenport University is excited to be part of this new football tradition with Ferris State University while honoring an iconic piece of Grand Rapids history.” (link)

The CACC will add Esports as its newest championship, starting this fall. Commissioner Dan Mara: “The CACC and its member schools believe this inaugural season of ESports will be the first step in growing the sport to offer more games and opportunities to even more student-athletes in the future. We look forward to crowning first-time champions in both games later this fall.” (link)

It’s Personnel:

+ Emporia State promotes Asst. AD for Administration Steve Rodecap to Senior Assoc. AD for Administration. (link)

+ Saint Michael’s names Colorado (DI) Development Assistant for Stewardship, Events & Engagement Annie Martin as Assoc. AD. (link)

+ West Texas A&M taps Assoc. Athletic Trainer Jaclyn Wood as SWA. (link)

+ Southwest Minnesota State selects Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach Angela Lee as Asst. AD for Marketing and Engagement. (link)

+ NACE Executive Director Michael Brooks is stepping down after seven years at the helm. (link)

Washington Commanders Running Back/Western Colorado alum Austin Ekeler chats with cllct about his platform, Eksperience, which is partnered with WCU to support Mountaineers’ NIL efforts. Eksperience allows athletes to engage with fans in a variety of ways including video chats, gaming sessions, social media requests, video messages and more. WCU Deputy AD Greg Hinze: “If (the athletes) can reach out and engage a person in a community or a fan in a more personal way, then that results in that person actually coming to games and watching that student athlete. Well, then that's a win for everybody, all the way around. To me, that's what it's really all about.” cllct’s Matt Liberman adds: “Athletes can focus on what they do best, Ekeler told cllct, being an athlete. Eksperience sets prices for athletes depending on a few different metrics, mainly based on popularity and on-field success. But if an athlete wants to change the price Eksperience evaluates, it’s no problem, Ekeler said, and the company takes a 20 percent marketing fee.” (link)

Deal Digest:

+ Alabama-Huntsville teams up with Podium X to “provide UAH student-athletes with platforms that will boost their personal and professional growth so that they can be successful well beyond their time at UAH,” per AD Cade Smith. (link)

+ Thomas Jefferson partners with Hudl. (link)

+ The RMAC and Christian Brothers are the latest to partner with Influxer. (link, link)

Coaches.wire:

+ Point Park hires former LaRoche (DIII) Men’s Golf HC Max Kaminsky as its new Men’s and Women’s Golf HC. (link)

+ West Virginia Wesleyan promotes Men’s Soccer Assoc. HC Holden Talton to Women’s Soccer HC. (link)

+ Charleston inks Women’s Lacrosse HC Ryland Luciano to a contract extension. (link)

+ This morning’s edition of Coaches.wire shows coaching movement in nearly every sport. Stay up-to-speed with all the changes in college coaching. (link)

Miles has agreed to purchase Birmingham-Southern’s (defunct) 192-acre campus, located around six miles from its campus. The purchase price is unknown, but BSC’s assets were valued at roughly $65M last year. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Director of Athletics (Truman State University / Kirksville, MO): The AD is the chief administrator for Truman State University's intercollegiate athletics program and leads the development and management of 18 sports with over 30 head and assistant coaches. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Executive Director, Coast Guard Academy Athletic Corporation (United States Coast Guard Academy / New London, CT): The CGAAC Executive Director will lead a start-up non-profit, manage all operational, financial, and programmatic requirements of the organization and display a passionate, entrepreneurial skillset. (DIII) More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Men's and Women's Track Coach (Henderson State University / Arkadelphia, AR): Henderson State University is seeking an energetic, enthusiastic individual for the position of Head Men’s and Women’s Track Coach. More details HERE.

Head Softball Coach (Colorado School of Mines / Golden, CO): Colorado School of Mines Department of Athletics invites applications for the Head Softball Coach. Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and applied science. More details HERE.

Head Field Hockey Coach (Barton College / Wilson, NC): Barton College is seeking a Head Field Hockey Coach to launch our inaugural program and oversee all aspects of it. More details HERE.

Team Lead of Transfer Eligibility (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) / Kansas City, KS): The transfer team lead will manage eligibility for students with breaks and transfers in the NAIA, overseeing team workload and maintaining resources, procedures, and training materials. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations (Pepperdine University / Malibu, CA): The role will report directly to the director of athletics, and will lead and execute the brand, marketing and revenue generation strategies for Pepperdine Athletics, using a data driven approach. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant AD, Bronco Productions & Digital Strategy (Western Michigan University / Kalamazoo, MI): Responsible for all creative video projects and production efforts for the athletic department. (DI) More details HERE.

Head Softball Coach (DePauw University / Greencastle, IN): Recruit, coach, mentor and graduate outstanding student-athletes in an environment that supports nationally competitive athletics opportunities at the #1 liberal arts college in Indiana. (DIII) More details HERE.

Assistant/Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Academics (Dallas Baptist University / Dallas, TX): DBU is seeking an Asst/Assoc AD for Compliance and Academics to assist the Director of Athletics in planning, supervision and conduct of all NCAA and club sport athletic programs. (DI) More details HERE.

Vice President and Director of Athletics (Villanova University / Villanova, PA): Villanova seeks a bold, collaborative and innovative leader to work with colleagues and across campus to provide strategic leadership to ensure the continued elevation of the Athletics Department. (DI) More details HERE.

Executive Director of the Bulldog Foundation/Assistant/Associate Athletics Director (Fresno State / Fresno, CA): Reporting to the Senior Associate AD for Development, this position oversees the Bulldog Foundation's annual giving program and staff, including solicitation, retention, and stewardship strategies. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Wrestling (Emmanuel University (Georgia) / Franklin Springs, GA): Are you Lion material?? Emmanuel University, located in NE Georgia, has an immediate opening for a full-time Assistant Director of Wrestling to assist with both men’s and women’s wrestling programs. More details HERE.

Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach (Michigan Technological University / Houghton, MI): Oversee the direction of the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Tennis programs at the NCAA Division II level. More details HERE.

Assistant/Associate/Senior Associate Athletic Director for Championship Resources (University of North Alabama / Florence, AL): Position is responsible for the fundraising activities for the division of Athletics, with primary emphasis on increasing philanthropic engagement on behalf of the division. (DI) More details HERE.

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (University of Illinois at Chicago / Chicago, IL): Reporting to the University Chancellor, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics will be part of an outstanding leadership team for the University focused on broad, far-reaching impact. (DI) More details HERE. The D1.dossier for this position is available HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (The College of New Jersey / Ewing, NJ): Responsibilities of the Assistant Athletic Trainer include assisting in providing athletic training services to varsity intercollegiate athletes. (DIII) More details HERE.

Assistant Coach, Men's & Women's Swimming (Gannon University / Erie, PA): The assistant coach will assist in coaching, managing, and directing all aspects of a competitive, NCAA Division II, intercollegiate swimming program. More details HERE.

Assistant Women's Tennis Coach (University of South Carolina / Columbia, SC): Assistant coach will support the women’s tennis program at the University of South Carolina by assisting with coaching, recruiting, and providing essential logistical support. (DI) More details HERE.

Vice President for Athletics (Hanover College / Hanover, IN): The vice president for athletics at Hanover College oversees all aspects of Hanover’s NCAA Division III athletic program. (DIII) More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director of External Relations (Lewis University / Romeoville, IL): The Associate Athletic Director for External Operations position will collaborate with internal and external constituents for strategic planning of the athletic department and university. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Athletic Development and External Affairs (Texas A&M International University / Laredo, TX): Assists Development Officers and Institutional Advancement in securing philanthropic support for athletics. More details HERE.

Athletic Trainer (Texas A&M International University / Laredo, TX): The Athletic Trainer prevents, cares and treats injuries to athletes using necessary knowledge of injury patterns and modern principles of athletic training. More details HERE.

Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach (Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI): Position serves as the leader of the NCAA intercollegiate women’s lacrosse program that recruits and retains quality student-athletes who achieve student-athlete success on and off from the field. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics Communications (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) / Kansas City, MO): The Director of Athletics Communications is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the department's day-to-day operations. (NAIA) More details HERE.

Director of Athletics Media Relations (Coker University / Hartsville, SC): Director of Athletics Media Relations. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (University of Texas at Dallas / Richardson, TX): UTD seeks experienced and energetic athletic trainer who will provide education, assessment, treatment and prevention services for athletic-related injuries and illnesses. More details HERE.

Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach (Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI): Reports to the Head Swimming and Diving Coach and assists in all aspects of the program, including and not limited to, coaching, recruiting, camps and swim lessons. More details HERE.

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