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#10: Texas A&M-Kingsville promotes Interim AD/Football HC Michael Salinas to the permanent AD post. President Robert Vela: “Coach Salinas has demonstrated a singular commitment to competitive excellence and student success inside the classroom, while honoring the tremendous legacy and tradition associated with Javelina Athletics. He is a leader of the highest integrity, and I am confident that, just as he transformed our football program, he will elevate Javelina Athletics to the next level.” Salinas will step down leading the Javelinas on the gridiron, with DC Jamison Bisch to move to Interim HC. (link)
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#9: Emory & Henry will discontinue Men’s and Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving at the end of this academic year, following an external audit. AD Kyle Sensabaugh: “This is a very difficult day for Emory & Henry Athletics. Over the past several years, I have built relationships with the student-athletes and coaches of these programs and seen their hard work and growth. While I understand the need to evaluate our programs, it is especially tough that this is happening at the outset of my term as Director of Athletics.” (link)
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#8: U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordan of Sherman, Texas, permanently blocked the Biden administration U.S. Department of Labor rule that took effect in July, saying it improperly bases eligibility for overtime pay on workers’ wages rather than their job duties. In June, Jordan said the rule was likely invalid and temporarily blocked it from being applied to Texas state employees. The state of Texas and business groups representing a range of industries had filed lawsuits challenging the rule, which had been consolidated. Jordan, in part: “The Department may impose some limitations on the scope of the EAP Exemption’s operative terms, but it cannot enact rules that replace or swallow the meaning those terms have.” Most importantly: “The rule would have required employers to pay overtime premiums to salaried workers who earn less than $1,128 per week, or about $58,600 per year, when they work more than 40 hours in a week, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and it had temporarily raised the threshold to about $44,000 per year on July 1. The previous threshold of about $35,500, which was set in 2019, will now be back in effect.” (link)
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#7: Henderson State AD Set Dutton took to X to share his opinions on the playoff selections: “There are some extremely good teams in SR3 that made the playoffs and some that didn’t. I think it’s time for the NCAA DII to review the current playoff model and adjust. SR3 has matchups in week one that could easily be a national semifinal game. There are teams that didn’t qualify but should be in the picture due to the strengths of their league and quality of team. We really need to review the current model and figure out what the best route is moving forward to ensure not only the best teams get in but also create a bracket that provides a true championship experience throughout the playoff season. We need to review what is considered a region opponent. The closer the games, the better the crowds and more environment for both teams. Let’s make it happen.” (link)
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#6: Mississippi College announced a trio of significant moves as part of its review leading up to MC’s bicentennial including the discontinuation of Football as part of a strategic realignment of athletics. AD Kenny Bizot: “Discontinuing our football program is a difficult decision. We acknowledge the program’s legacy and the deep connection to the many student-athletes, alumni and supporters of the football program. I want to emphasize that we will always consider them as part of our MC Family.” The college will also change its name to Mississippi Christian University and is working on an academic reorganization. More from MC: “All three changes – the institutional name change, academic reorganization plan and athletic department realignment – emphasize prioritizing the academic enterprise and supporting the university’s core functions. The three changes were based on recommendations from a task force of university trustees, which were developed in consultation with university leadership and approved by the Board of Trustees, with the primary goal of providing long-term sustainability for the institution through strategic mission alignment, organizational efficiencies and a structurally balanced budget.” (link); The GSC released a statement following the Choctaws’ change: “We are disheartened following today’s announcement by Mississippi College and recognize the difficult position this creates for the conference and our football playing members. The Gulf South Conference has a long history of success on the gridiron, and we are committed to preserving that tradition. Our strength as a football conference will once again be on display with two of our teams competing in this year’s NCAA Division II Championship.” (link)
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#5: Northwest Missouri State Football HC Rich Wright’s contract won’t be renewed, effective December 31, after eight seasons at the helm. (link) |
#4: Tuskegee led DII in Football attendance this season with an average of 18.4K fans. Grand Valley State, Fort Valley State, Pitt State and Albany State rounded out the top five. (link)
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#3: The final Women’s Volleyball regional rankings are led by Gannon, St. Cloud State, Bentley, Ferris State, Lynn, West Texas A&M, Wingate and Cal Poly Pomona. (link)
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#2: The 28-team Football playoff bracket is set with Colorado State-Pueblo, Ferris State, Kutztown and Valdosta State earning first-round byes. (link)
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#1: Indianapolis selects former Lenoir-Rhyne AD Kim Pate as the Greyhounds’ new AD, starting Monday. President Tanuja Singh: “It was clear in the search process that her depth of experience and dedication to excellence is a perfect fit for UIndy. Her commitment to integrating athletics to the broader university structure resonates deeply with our vision. I'm excited to see how she elevates each one of our programs.” WittKieffer assisted with the search process. (link); New Indianapolis AD Kim Pate was introduced on Monday. Pate: “It's important for me, my goals and my aspirations to be a part of somewhere that wants to be a leader, a leader in Division II, become a model program where quite honestly we want to be the best in Division II in all ways in athletically, academically, fundraising, marketing, everything we do, we want to be at the top of Division II. That does require a special culture, a special group of people, leaders, talent, but I want to be somewhere where there's that commitment to be the best and that's that's why I chose UIndy. […] First and foremost, I want to build on the strong foundation and the culture that is already here. There is no doubt that there are so many great pieces in place. This is one of the premier DII programs in the country, but there's always room for improvement. I've walked around the facilities and I have all kinds of ideas for how we can elevate the student experience here and I look forward to being able to work with this group to be able to do that, but we have to have a strong culture.” President Tanuja Singh: “This is one of the best things to have happened to the University of Indianapolis. […] When we were looking for [our next AD], Rick [Graycarek, EVP of Finance and Administration] who helped lead the search, he said Tanuja you are looking for a unicorn and I said we are looking for someone who's exceptionally gifted but who also brings this great sense of purpose and in Kim we found her.” (link)
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