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Grand View wins the program’s second Football title after a 35-7 win over Keiser. (link)

Indiana Wesleyan leads the fall NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, with Cumberlands, College of Idaho, Marian and The Master’s rounding out the top five. The Crossroads League tops all conferences with three teams in the top 20. (link)

The NCAA Board of Directors has voted to appeal the Vanderbilt (NCAA DI) QB Diego Pavia court ruling but is also granting a waiver for junior college players in a similar position as Pavia, paving the way for the extension of the careers of hundreds of former junior college players. A statement from the board adds that DI leaders are “committed to advancing [player eligibility] discussions during January governance meetings.” Yahoo's Ross Dellenger adds: "Should be noted that this encompasses all 'non-NCAA' schools, which would include an athlete's stint at an NAIA program as well." (link)

Notable from NCAA DI:

+ U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has approved a version of the Q&A document about the House settlement for current and prospective athletes that “does *not* include changes requested by lawyers representing athletes who had objected to preliminary approval of settlement,” according to USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz. (link)

+ Attorneys Douglas DePeppe and Brandon Leopoldus submit that the House settlement could jeopardize up to 25K Olympic sport roster spots across DI, roughly 13% of the 190K student-athletes currently competing at this level. “The Complaint emphasized that many student-athletes come ‘from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds’ and were being ‘deprived of the educational opportunities and economic benefits that the market would pay.’ However, the proposed settlement creates harm to these exact same student-athletes in a manner that is likely antithetical to antitrust law. The proposed settlement would implement roster caps that could eliminate opportunities for thousands of DI athletes, particularly in Olympic sports. Because of this, the proposed settlement does not adequately represent the interests of all class members given that the preliminary settlement defines multiple settlement classes including an ‘Additional Sports Class’ covering all Division I athletes outside of football and basketball. … Further, the settlement's structure may effectively create a new form of anticompetitive restraint by forcing schools to reduce athletic opportunities in order to fund payments to a small subset of athletes. This appears to conflict with the NCAA's stated goal of creating ‘a safe, and equitable environment that allows student-athletes to reach their full potential in academics, athletics and life.’” They conclude: “While many complain about the pay for play influences and demise of college sport, more sunlight needs to fall upon the NCAA and athletic directors with their knives out priming to cut nonrevenue sports rosters.” (link)

@1QLeadership Question: Is there a grieving period after losing your job?

Amber McCray, volleyball coach and sports administrator, shares her introspection after being dismissed from the head coaching position at Louisiana Tech. Contemplating on what she valued from the experience, what she could have done differently, and where she goes from this point, McCray gives us an inside look into the mind of a coach who is "in transition."

"God will scream at you if you don't listen to the whispers" - Amber McCray

McCray helped build the La Tech athletics fan community and increased attendance to matches while she was the head coach. Heavy on relationships and weary of the transactional direction that college athletics is headed in, she is contemplating her future in sports. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Bethel (KS) hires Calvin (NCAA DIII) DC Josh Lawson as its next HC.(link)

Coaches.wire:

+ Cumberland taps prep coach Steven Miller as the university’s inaugural Women’s Flag Football HC. (link)

+ Kansas Wesleyan taps former AC/current Salina Country Club Director of Golf Wes Lawhorn to Men’s and Women’s Golf HC. (link)

+ Sterling hires alumna/Tennis Pro Event & Tournament Coordinator Nicole Salazar as Men’s & Women’s Tennis HC. (link)

+ Check out this morning’s edition of Coaches.wire, full of movement in the fall sports lineup. (link)

President Joe Biden and the White House are expected to “pull back unfinished rules across several agencies if there isn’t enough time to finalize them before Trump takes office,” according to ESPN News Services. Among those could be Biden’s efforts to provide protections for transgender student-athletes and cancel student loans. “For the regulation on transgender students, the Education Department said it was withdrawing the proposal because of ongoing litigation over how Title IX, the landmark law preventing sex discrimination, should handle issues of gender identity. In addition, the department said there were 150,000 public comments with a range of feedback, including suggestions for modifications that needed to be considered. At this point, the department wrote, ‘We do not intend for a final rule to be issued.’” (link)

USA Today’s Chris Quintana and Kenny Jacoby take a look at the world of postgraduate football and find that “these programs thrive in the unregulated space between high school and higher education, and they’re fueled by the hopes of athletes who garnered little attention from big-time colleges, whether because of bad grades, small size or injuries. Owners of these teams often describe their players – more often than not men of color – as ‘at-risk’ or ‘inner-city youth,’ whose best hope to attend college is through football. They understand these desires – many played in college or the NFL themselves – and have discovered they can promise anything while delivering next to nothing. They charge their players thousands of dollars and seldom face consequences when their programs fall apart.” Some key findings from Quintana and Jacoby’s reporting: program owners often exaggerate or misrepresent the food, lodging and other services they say they’ll provide; seasons often end early and without warning; injuries are commonplace and made more dangerous by the lack of athletic trainers or safety protocols; college and high school football teams play and practice under strict health and safety rules, but experts say they fear for postgrad players who have no such safeguards; few players find the college offers they’re seeking; those who do succeed often say it's despite their postgrad program, not because of it; and local law enforcement and federal regulators have cracked down on a handful of team owners, but no single agency regulates or oversees them.” Lots more. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance (Miami University / Oxford, OH): The position is responsible for advising, monitoring, and assisting in the work required to comply with The NCAA, Mid-American & the National Collegiate Hockey Conferences rules and regulations. (DI) More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Athletic Trainer (New Mexico State University / Las Cruces, NM): Provides physical therapy and assists in the prevention, care, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. (DI) More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (University of Texas – Tyler / Tyler, TX): Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Director of Athletics is a visionary and strategic leader for all athletic programs at the University. (DII) More details HERE.

Assistant/Associate Commissioner, Marketing and External Operations (West Coast Conference / San Bruno, CA): This role will be responsible for the development and execution of marketing assets, WCC digital communication strategy, and the creation of revenue-generating efforts across all WCC initiatives. (DI) More details HERE.

Commissioner (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Belleville, IL): Commissioner - St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - Full-time August 1, 2025 - Perform all duties as associated with a commissioner position. Budgeting, compliance, championships, scheduling. (DIII) More details HERE.

Athletic Director (Augsburg University / Minneapolis, MN): Reporting directly to the President, the Athletic Director is responsible for the leadership, strategic planning, management and administration of the University’s athletic program. (DIII) More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Fan Engagement, and Revenue Strategy (University of San Diego / San Diego, CA): Support attendance and revenue generation at athletic events through fan engagement initiatives and promotional campaigns. Oversee game-day experiences and community outreach in America's Finest City. (DI) More details HERE.

Head Volleyball Coach (Oral Roberts University / Tulsa, OK): Lead D1 Volleyball Program in Newly Renovated Million Dollar Facilities including New Locker Room and Private Practice Gym. Please email any interest to kaity@bowlsbysportsadvisors.com (DI) More details HERE. The Coaches.dossier for this position is available HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (University of Pikeville / Pikeville, KY): University of Pikeville (UPIKE), the Leading University in Central Appalachia is actively seeking candidates for an Assistant Athletic Trainer in the Athletics Department. More details HERE.

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (University of Pikeville / Pikeville, KY): The University of Pikeville in Pikeville, Kentucky seeks a dynamic and creative Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. More details HERE.

Director of Volleyball (William Woods University / Fulton, MO): Join data-driven responsible growth through athletics at The Woods. A dynamic recruiter and proven culture builder, responsible for WVB, MVB, and beach. Successful candidate will oversee FT & GA staff. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing & Fan Engagement (William & Mary / Williamsburg, VA): Develop and implement marketing, promotional activities, digital and social strategies, and ticket sales plans for football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and men’s and women’s soccer. (DI) More details HERE.

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