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#10: Randolph officially opened its new 4,700 square-foot Wrestling facility. AD Tom Galbraith: “When we talked about wrestling, we ran into one roadblock, and that was a facility. You are now standing in front of the answer to that question. This building not only represents the College's commitment to wrestling, it represents the College's commitment to the athletics department as a whole and our nearly 350 student-athletes who call themselves WildCats. Thirty of those this year will be wrestlers.” (link)
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#9: Maine Maritime Football HC Calvin Powell is no longer leading the Mariners. AC Bill Mottola has been tapped as Interim HC. AD Steve Peed is also assisting as an AC. (link) |
#8: Austin AD David Norman will retire at the end of the academic year after 35 years with the college. AC President Steven O’Day: “There is really no way to calculate the impact of someone who has had a career like Coach Norman, working with the hundreds upon hundreds of students who have participated in Austin College athletics over the last four decades. Austin College athletics would not be what it is today, with 14 varsity teams and almost a third of the student body involved, without the leadership and vision of Coach Norman. He is truly a fixture at Austin College and will be missed—though after 35 years of service we are happy to wish him a fond farewell as he heads into a well-deserved retirement.” (link)
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#7: Notre Dame (MD) Asst. AD for Athletic Communications Seth Goodyear is no longer with the university. (link)
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#6: Baldwin Wallace announces its cost-cutting measures in the face of a $20M deficit. 10 academic programs will be cut and 64 positions will be eliminated including 2 executive level layoffs. Of note, the AD and athletics temporarily report through the VP of Operations until a new president is hired. (link)
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#5: North Florida (DI) Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Steve Dittmore explores which DIII members “do the best job of achieving those stated [DIII] priorities of ‘rigorous academics’ and ‘competitive athletics,’” finding 42 members who finished in the top 100 of the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings and latest U.S. News and World Report rankings for top liberal arts schools and national universities. Dittmore: “Does this mean the other 400-or-so Division III schools are somehow inferior? No, of course not. It simply means that, by these two measures alone, those 42 schools are providing the best blend of rigorous academics and competitive athletics. It also means that by joining the Centennial Conference for football, Carnegie Mellon University is aligning its program with institutions similar to itself for all sports. […] As schools such as CMU increasingly align their institution with others who share similar ideas about the purpose of academics and athletics, the potential for increased polarization among Division III exists. In much the same way that Division I has morphed from FBS to Power 5 to Power 4 (and everyone else), the idea that some Division III schools might wish to self-select into a ‘Division X’ is at least 20 years old.” (link)
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#4: Calvin recently held a grand opening of its new soccer stadium. The 855-seat facility includes new locker rooms, video board and more. AD Jim Timmer: “With its incredible features and sustainable design, this stadium truly sets Calvin University apart. We now have a home worthy of our national-caliber soccer programs, consistently ranked among the best in NCAA Division III. This venue also supports our mission to care for our environment through energy-efficient design. […] Our investment in this stadium aligns with our commitment to support our athlete’s faith development, academic excellence in the classroom, and building champions on the field.” (link); Check out the new locker rooms. (link)
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#3: John Carroll HC Alex Lagesse is no longer leading the Blue Streaks. (link) |
#2: U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken has granted preliminary approval to the House settlement, concluding that “on a preliminary basis only, the settlement complies with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 that the agreement be fair, reasonable and adequate,” according to Sportico’s Michael McCann. The process of officially notifying current and former athletes of the terms and claims procedures is set to begin on October 18. Those who would be covered by the agreement will have the opportunity to object or opt out by January 31, 2025, with a final approval hearing scheduled for April 7, 2025. NCAA President Charlie Baker: "We are thrilled by Judge Wilken’s decision to give preliminary approval to the landmark settlement that will help bring stability and sustainability to college athletics while delivering increased benefits to student-athletes for years to come. Today’s progress is a significant step in writing the next chapter for the future of college sports. We look forward to working with all of Division I, and especially student-athlete leadership groups to chart the path forward and drive historic change." USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz notes schools could begin paying their athletes in the first academic year after final approval and the resolution of any potential appeals. “So, in theory, payments to athletes could begin during the 2025-26 school year. And [House plaintiffs’ attorney Steve] Berman has said current and former athletes could begin receiving checks from the damages pool in fall 2025, if not sooner.” McCann: “For the NCAA and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Monday is a positive development but by no means represents the crossing of the finish lines. There are still miles to go on that front.” (link, link); Berkowitz adds that Wilken’s “order today did not include any specific commentary concerning her reasons for granting preliminary approval other than fairly standard general language saying that she will ‘likely be able to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate ... subject to further consideration’ at the final approval hearing.” (link); Full order. (link)
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#1: Mount Mary will exit DIII and join the NAIA starting next fall. MMU President Isabelle Cherney: “The NAIA serves the interests of small institutions like ours and is a perfect fit for us. We will now be able to recruit student-athletes with scholarships, attracting new talent and improving the student-athlete and visitor experience. I anticipate an exciting new season with a fresh group of competitors, and above all, I am thrilled about the NAIA’s shared values of character-driven athletics.” (link)
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