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uReport is a patent-pending service that allows schools to tell their own stories through a human powered/AI assisted experience. It helps to create full AP-style articles about events and other athletic news that schools can easily publish and distribute.

"We believe that uReport can be a great fit for our schools, many of which have limited sports information staffing and resources. Any technology that has the potential to increase coverage and content while minimizing work load is a positive for our schools."

Eric Ward, Commissioner, WHAC; Mike Hall, Commissioner, SSAC

Eric & Mike serve on the leadership group of the Conference Alliance that includes all NAIA conferences.

NAIA.jobs powered by CollegeSports.jobs ... New opportunities at Siena Heights, Southwestern (x2) and St. Lawrence (DIII), below. Post your department-wide openings with CollegeSports.jobs, where thousands of administrators start their days and where tens of thousands of coaches get news and updates about their respective sports. Want unlimited job-postings for one year? Learn more about all job posting options HERE or contact jobs@driveandcompany.com

Life AD Jayme Pendergast sits down with NAIA.ticker’s Anthony Grassi at the 2024 Women Leaders in Sports Convention to dive into her leadership style and growth, evaluating coaches and staff and more. On her style: “Our operating system is exceptional judgment equals minimal controls. […] What I like is to hire really competent, high-performing people that know the direction and let them have autonomy and ownership in their particular program, whether it's a coach or an administrator. I mean because research shows you get the most out of people when they feel trust and they feel ownership; however, for that philosophy to be successful you have to hire competent high-performing people.” Pendergast, who moved into the chair after two years at Life, says that transition was challenging, adding: “if I wouldn't have had such a good group of humans that supported me, even through those hiccups of learning leadership, I am not sure I would have been in it for the long run. They gave me a lot of grace, they had a lot of patience and I think any leader needs that.” Asked how she managed the transition from peer to supervisor: “If you treat all of your professional relationships with trust at the forefront, that carries over from peer to supervisor and that never changes. I will say though things started changing organizationally when we would have natural turnover and when I would make quote my hire. […] When you're able to sit across from applicants right or people interviewing and talk about your vision, ask them specific questions and hire for fit, it just starts building in a different way.” More on how Pendergast manages her relationship with her president, opportunities and challenges for the NAIA, sport sponsorship decisions can be found on BOSCA. (link)

Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Joe Scalzo profiles Lake Erie’s (NCAA DII) work to balance its enrollment away from being overwhelmingly full of student-athletes, with that population making up 83% of enrollment last year, and broader challenges of enrollment growth through athletics. LEC’s student population currently sits at 73% student-athlete, with President Jennifer Schuller hoping to get it below 50%, adding: “It’s not sustainable for institutions — particularly ones our size — to be reliant almost single-handedly on athletics for their enrollment. I love our student-athletes, and I don’t want to disparage them at all, but colleges have to be more than just that.” More broadly, North Florida (NCAA DI) Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Steve Dittmore notes of the six recent closures with less than 1,000 students, all had at least 44% of its population made up of athletes. “If the goal for smaller, liberal arts-based institutions is to have an integrated and inclusive environment, having more athletes might do the opposite. Athletics isn’t always integrated with the rest of the student body. It risks alienating certain segments of campus and creating a division between athletes and non-athletes. […] merely adding sports in an attempt to grow enrollment may not be the savior administrators hope it will be.” John Carroll (NCAA DIII) AD Brian Polian says the sweet spot for JCU is between 30 and 35%. Further: “We feel like, right now, we’re able to provide kids with a really positive experience. If you’re paying tuition to play football and there are 220 members on the roster, what kind of coaching are you getting? What kind of personal attention are you getting? When you have rosters that are cumbersome, that starts to speak to the student experience. And if the student experience is negative, that’s not good for anyone. I’m not going to ask coaches to manage rosters that are simply cumbersome because they want to get people through the door. That’s irresponsible.” More. (link)

365 Sports Radio is a daily show, hosted by Paul Catalina, featuring discussions and interviews with guests from across the college sports industry.

This episode features K.C. Keeler, Head Football Coach at Sam Houston State, covering a number of topics regarding the football season.

• Being bowl eligible in the first 9 weeks of the season

• Last year's transition to FBS

• Keeping players on the team in the portal era

🎥 (link)

Arizona Christian and Washington Adventist will add Women’s Flag Football in 2025-26. ACU AD Peter Dryer: “We believe the opportunity to compete for the Firestorm is tremendous - pursuing an excellent degree from a biblical worldview, growing athletic facilities, a high level strength training program, quality care from our sports medicine team, mental performance training, and our full commitment to Christian faith development within the athletic arena.” (link, link)

Dordt Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving will join the KCAC as an affiliate member starting this season. (link)

The NAIA inks a three-year deal with Jostens to become the official licensed supplier of recognition rings. (link)

We offer our deepest condolences to the Cleary community following the passing of Men’s Wrestling student-athlete Ryan Mosher. (link)

More Higher Ed:

+ Peru State President Michael Evans will retire next month. (link)

+ The actual price of tuition at many of the country’s colleges continued a steady, decade-long decline as the sector enters an era of shrinking high-school enrollments and greater competition, according to analysis released by the College Board. The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Dan Bauman explains that “while sticker prices have continued to balloon to as large as $100K at some private, nonprofit universities, the average net price — the remaining cost of tuition after institutional and grant aid is deducted — for undergraduate students entering their freshman year at these institutions clocked in at $16,510 for the 2024-25 academic year, down from $19,330 in 2006-07 (adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars). Net prices at public institutions followed similar trend lines: $2,480 was the average amount charged in 2024-25 at in-state, four-year institutions, down from $4,340 in 2012-13 (inflation adjusted); and, according to the College Board, freshmen attending two-year colleges continue to receive on average enough grant aid to cover tuition and fees, a trend that dates back to 2009-10.” More from The Chronicle. (link)

Interested in advertising a department opening in NAIA.ticker? Click here to submit your position. Post your department-wide openings with CollegeSports.jobs, where thousands of administrators coaches get news and updates about the world of college sports.

(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations, Facilities and Events (St. Lawrence University / Canton, NY): St. Lawrence University is now accepting applications for an Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations, Facilities & Events. (DIII) More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Cross Country Coach (Southwestern College / Winfield, KS): Head Men & Women's Cross Country Coach to lead in the development and management of all phases of an NAIA program. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Tennis Coach (Southwestern College / Winfield, KS): Head Men & Women's Tennis Coach who would have the opportunity to run all aspects of this NAIA program and make it their own. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach (Siena Heights University / Adrian, MI): Directs and coordinates the planning, organizing, and coaching of the SHU golf teams. Responsible for providing a quality athletic program through training/conditioning, competition, and recruitment. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Midway University / Midway, KY): Midway University seeks a Director of Athletics with a business mindset and entrepreneurial spirit who can oversee a competitive intercollegiate athletics program with 27 varsity teams. More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director - External and Corporate Relations (California Baptist University / Riverside, CA): Oversee external unit of the athletic department that emphasizes corporate sponsorships and sales, brand management, marketing, and other external units; and, possible sports supervision. (DI) More details HERE.

Head Coach - Women's Lacrosse (St. Lawrence University / Canton, NY): St. Lawrence University invites applications for a Head Coach for Women’s Lacrosse to direct the development, organization and management of all phases of this Division III Women’s Lacrosse program. (DIII) More details HERE.

Athletic Performance Graduate Assistant (Northwestern College / Orange City, IA): NWC is looking for an athletic performance graduate assistant to help design and implement strength and conditioning programs. More details HERE.

Head Coach, Men's Soccer (Midway University / Midway, KY): Midway University, located 14 miles outside Lexington, KY, is actively seeking a full-time head coach to lead our men’s soccer program. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director of Human Resources (University of Southern California / Los Angeles, CA): USC seeks a Senior Associate Athletic Director for Human Resources to lead HR initiatives, drive leadership development, and align HR strategies with USC’s mission. (DI) More details HERE.

Vice President of Marketing (Florida Victorious / Gainesville, FL): Florida Victorious, Proud NIL Partner of the Florida Gators, is looking for a creative thinker with drive who can continue to increase brand awareness and participation in our organization! (DI) More details HERE.

Director of Integrated Marketing (NAIA.ticker/Drive & Company / Remote): Drive brand awareness of its publications & products, the cross-promotion of its portfolio and work in unison with our dozens of advertising partners to ensure positive results via marketing campaigns. More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director, External Affairs (Northwest Missouri State University / Maryville, MO): Deputy AD responsible for external arms of the department: corporate sponsorships, booster club, and fundraising specifically. (DII) 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. (DII) More details HERE.

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