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Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh believes NCAA President Charlie Baker could be a candidate to run for U.S. Senate noting: “Baker is in Massachusetts all the time, endorsing candidates, doing the Boston Pops, all of it. He certainly looks like someone who's running.” In response to that report, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports: “NCAA Senior VP of External Affairs Tim Buckley tells ESPN that a report in Boston linking NCAA president Charlie Baker to a Senate run in Massachusetts is ‘untrue.’ He adds: ‘In the last several days alone, Charlie has been in North Carolina for the DI women’s soccer championship, Texas for DII football finals, Kentucky for DI women’s volleyball semifinals and will be in Tennessee soon for the NCAA convention – he’s clearly not running for any political office and is solely focused on the future of college sports. That report is untrue.’ Buckley helped run Baker's prior campaigns in Massachusetts.” (link, link - original report)

More from Northwest Missouri State President Lance Tatum on leading the university, alongside AD Andy Peterson, amidst the major personnel changes in the department, with Tatum noting it began with the two of them discussing guiding principles, namely a strong student-athlete experience. “From there, it was about strategic vision. Where did we want to take Northwest from an athletic standpoint? How could we be good partners within the MIAA? How could we be contributing partners to the MIAA? Then to the competitiveness of it, I think all of athletics leads to that question. How competitive do you want to be? What investments do you need to make in athletics? How do you need to position yourselves within the conference within the region to be competitive? From there, Andy put together some strategic objectives that we work through. He and I obviously talked a lot the last probably two to three months, we spent a lot of time together talking about what would be the next step for us in terms of how we replaced these positions. I think each coach that you mentioned had a very unique perspective on how to run their athletic programs and so all of this comes back to the idea of continuing and reinforcing the expectations of winning at Northwest.” On what the next opportunity for separation in DII, Tatum points to NIL: “Now it's a different structure terms of of expectation and what we want to do with those dollars but it is certainly an active conversation that is going on and as a conference, we have to pay attention to that because once we get out of region three we are competing with other universities who are also trying to win national titles. I'm excited about where NIL is going. I'm a little bit concerned about the toothpaste already getting out of the tube at the Division I level. […] If you're going to compete in the Division II world in athletics, you've got to just be willing to work with those entities.” (link)

Regis AD Tommy Gilhooly joins The Sidelines podcast to dive into the culture within the Rangers’ department, the future for Regis athletics and more. Prior to taking the position, Gilhooly, through his relationship with President Salvador Aceves, level set with Aceves “saying if I’m going to do this, you’re going to do it with me and that means we’re going to live our mission and we’re going to do things that are very different, but in a way that I know how to do them. […] I tell our coaches I’m the most competitive person on the planet. I am and I want you to win, but if you, as a coach, aren’t invited to a life event of some capacity after these kids leave, then we have failed.” Looking ahead, Gilhooly is most excited about the progress Regis has made on his initial five-year plan, with the Rangers being a year ahead of his initial schedule. “As much as it’s mission based, I’m a CEO at heart so I put an operation together that’s like a business and redoing all of the operations and the finance and fiscal policy documents and responsibilities and changing behavior around spend and reallocations and things that are really in this business space that don’t always exist in this space to align us with the university’s budget and mission so I can grow facilities, scholarships, visibility. For the last two years, kind of changing the tires as the car is rolling and a lot of these plans are starting to come to fruition with finance and facilities and are starting to take hold. That will launch us in the coming years, so this place is far better than I found it, even if I’m not running it.” Lots more on his journey to becoming an AD and future facility development. (link)

NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley provides more details on the athletics moves as part of the Montclair State (DIII) and Bloomfield merger. For the 20 scholarship student-athletes at Bloomfield whose sport was eliminated: “The Bloomfield athletes receiving scholarships will be evaluated to make sure they receive all the financial aid possible once their teams are discontinued, university officials said. They will be able to try out for other Montclair athletic programs, which they had not been able to do before the realignment.” At Montclair, a petition has garnered more than 15K signatures to ask the university to reinstate Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, which will transition to club as the department adds Women’s Flag Football. (link)

MSU Denver promotes Assoc. AD for Operations Jerrid Oates to Deputy AD and Athletics Media Producer Eric Lansing to Asst. AD for Communications. (link)

Former Emporia State Women’s Soccer HC Bryan Sailer has filed a lawsuit against the university and AD David Spafford claiming a violation of Title IX due to gender equity disparities for the team, namely facilities and support. Sailer was terminated last year after an investigation info violations of department policies and student code of conduct related to student-athletes allegedly drinking after winning the MIAA championship, with the lawsuit mentioning a unemployment hearing during which “the Kansas Unemployment Referee said ESU did not establish misconduct from Sailer and Spafford was not a credible witness in those proceedings.” (link)

Deal Digest:

+ The ECC partners with FanWord to enhance its storytelling efforts through feature stories, game recaps and other written content. (link)

+ The G-MAC inks a three-year agreement with Hour-A-Thon to serve as the league’s official fundraising service. (link)

Paul Catalina is the featured host on 365 Sports Radio weekdays for discussions and interviews about college sports.

Wren Baker, West Virginia Director of Athletics joins 365 Sports to discuss his thoughts on West Virginia rehiring former head coach Rich Rodriguez, what kind of impact having alumni like Pat McAfee does for the university, what matters most when you are conducting a coaching search and more. 📹 here.

Miles Football HC Sam Shade is headed to Alabama A&M (DI) in the same capacity. (link)

Shaw welcomes back former Bears HC/recent Alabama State (DI) Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Greg Ruffin as Football HC. AD George Knox: "We are thrilled to welcome Coach Ruffin back to Shaw University. His energy, experience, and vision for the future of our football program align perfectly with our mission. Coach Ruffin's commitment to developing student-athletes and building a championship culture makes him the ideal leader for the Bears." (link)

Truman State removes the interim tag in naming Kellen Nesbitt as Football HC. (link)

Coaches.wire:

+ Colorado Mesa Women’s Volleyball HC Dave Fleming resigns after 20 seasons at the helm to accept the same position at North Texas (DI). (link)

+ Colorado State Pueblo Men’s Soccer HC Oliver Twelvetrees resigns after five campaigns in charge to take the same role at Florida Gulf Coast (DI). (link)

+ Frostburg State Cross Country/Track & Field HC Shane Brookshire has departed for the same position at Southwestern (NAIA). (link)

+ Wilmington promotes AC Reggie Hopkins to Track & Field HC. (link)

+ Nebraska Kearney announces a quartet of extensions as Football HC Ryan Held, Men’s Wrestling HC Dalton Jensen, Women’s Soccer HC Rob Breton and Women’s Volleyball HC Rick Squiers have all signed deals through December 31, 2028. (link)

+ This morning's edition of Coaches.wire is available. (link)

The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Lee Gardner examines how the Trump administration could impact higher ed’s finances and notes the “most obvious possibilities include fallout from looming tax reform, adjustments to the Pell Grant, and changes big or small to the Education Department, including its possible demolition.” Gardner points out that reform appears inevitable. “Many of the tax cuts enacted by President Trump in 2018 during his first term will expire in 2025, and he will no doubt want them extended.” NACUBO VP for Policy and Research Liz Clark: “That’s going to come with a cost. We fully expect that lawmakers are going to be looking for offsets to help pay for those tax cuts. So it is possible that they may look to some of the existing tax provisions that impact college students and colleges and universities as well.” Meanwhile, Pell grants could either be in danger or be expanded, as Gardner notes: “On the one hand, the president-elect has asked billionaire businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new federal Department of Government Efficiency to slash government spending, and Pell Grants may be on the chopping block. In an editorial in The Wall Street Journal last month, Musk and Ramaswamy wrote that they planned to cut costs in part by targeting the more than $500B in federal expenditures that are not currently ‘authorized’ by legislation but are funded year to year by congressional budget resolutions.” As far as the possible elimination of the Education Department, Appalachian State (DI) professor Andrew Koricich points out it cannot be done unilaterally by the executive branch. “You still need congressional approval to eliminate a cabinet agency, and I don’t think we can just assume that, on the very narrow majorities in both chambers, there are just people who are going to sign up to eliminate that department.” Lots more. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) Head Athletic Trainer (Lubbock Christian University / Lubbock, TX): Oversee the athletic training staff and supervise the initial care, evaluation, prevention, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries for assigned sports. More details HERE.

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.

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. 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.

Head Men's Soccer Coach (Coker University / Hartsville, SC): Coker University is accepting applications for the position of Head Men’s Soccer Coach. Coker is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the South Atlantic Conference. More details HERE.

Head Women's Soccer Coach (Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI): Serve as a leader of the NCAA intercollegiate women’s soccer program that recruits and retains quality student-athletes who achieve success on and off from the field. Comprehensive benefit package! More details HERE.

Sports Performance Coach PT (Missouri Western State University / St Joseph, MO): Part-time Sports Performance Coach to join MWSU Athletics. Provide comprehensive sports performance programs with the goal of improving sports performance & mitigating injury potential for all sports. More details HERE.

Athletic Trainer - Associate (Missouri Western State University / Saint Joseph, MO): Athletic Trainer - Associate Collegiate, working with Missouri Western State University Athletics program. Full Time Status Variable Shift Pay: $49046.40 - $73569.60 / year 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.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (University of Alaska – Anchorage / Anchorage, AK): The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Seawolf Athletics is seeking applicants to join our team as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (Lake Erie College / Painesville, OH): LEC is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). This is a full-time position. 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.

Head Cross Country Coach (University of South Carolina Aiken / Aiken, SC): The University of South Carolina Aiken, an NCAA Division II Institution and member of the Peach Belt Conference, is seeking a Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach. More details HERE.

Men’s Soccer Graduate Assistant (St. Mary's University – Texas / San Antonio, TX): This position is for a Men’s Soccer Graduate Assistant with additional duties to serve as the Goalkeeper coach for the top ranked Men’s soccer program at St. Mary’s University. More details HERE.

Compliance Coordinator - Athletics (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): To assist the Assistant AD for Compliance with day to day job duties in the area of compliance. (DI) More details HERE.

Head Volleyball Coach (Eastern New Mexico University / Portales, NM): Under general supervision, the Head Volleyball Coach is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a NCAA Division II women’s volleyball program, More details HERE.

Head Women's Soccer Coach (Saint Martin's University / Lacey, WA): The Head Women's Soccer Coach is responsible for all areas including or running a Women's Soccer program including scheduling, budgeting, recruiting, scouting, communicating and training. 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 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.

Director of Sales - Holy Cross Athletics (Peak Sports MGMT / Worcester, MA): This position focuses on cultivating B2B relationships with businesses to secure athletic partnerships for Holy Cross Athletics. (DI) More details HERE.

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