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NCAA VP of Division II/Liaison to the Board of Governors Terri Steeb Gronau sits down with D2.ticker’s Anthony Grassi at the 2025 NCAA Convention to discuss the state of the division, its priorities and more. “I think we're in a good place. […] As you know, Division II is in the middle of a strategic planning process and one of the things that we've heard from our members is that the timing of this is happening at a good time because it's allowing Division II to be able to refocus in on its priorities and initiatives versus always sort of worrying what's going to happen in Division I, what's going to be the trickle down effect. We're never going to not have a pulse on what's happening across the association, but with the potential settlement it really has allowed Division II to take a breath and think about what makes sense for Division II and continue Division II planning.” One area of interest for the division is the evaluation around a metric-based selection process. The championships committee is leaning towards NPI as that metric, which is the same DIII is using and Steeb Gronau notes fall sport committees in DII and DIII met after those championships to review how that was implemented and discuss any lessons learned. Now, the sport committees are having those conversations about such a process and provide feedback to the championships committee this summer. Steeb Gronau on when that system may be put into place: “At the earliest it would be fall of ‘26 because I don't think there's any way to put anything in place for 25-26 and you certainly don't want to have your fall sports different than your winter or your spring. So I think the earliest would be fall ‘26 and we're going to gather some feedback from the sport committees to say does that really make sense.” Lots more only on BOSCA. (link)

NCAA SVP of Administration/CFO Mario Morris joins Connect’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the NCAA Convention to talk about the NCAA being debt-free, priorities for 2025, how the NCAA can support schools with revenue-sharing and more. For 2025, Morris explains there will be a focus on continuing to invest in championships. “We want to do more there. We’re trying to balance our priorities, but we want to invest in those championships more. We also have to be aware of the litigation that's going on right now, and that's something that can be influenced by policy and by other things, and [it’s] something we've got to pay attention to, so it's a financial priority for us. Revenue generation is also a priority for us. … We also have to be mindful of what the Division I governance structure looks like and the changes that come about there. Do those cause us to look at things differently financially? So there's a lot on our mind to keep up with.” Asked how the association can help members, Morris says there may be more opportunities to change or relax rules to allow schools to monetize different assets. On the fan database: “I think we will be able to help our schools market and promote their events and hopefully have them gain more attendance at their events and more ticket revenue and other types of revenue. We're working on a pilot program right now to where we're discussing exchanging data and there's a lot to work through there but I think it'll be beneficial for us and for them.” Full conversation on Connect. (link)

WUNC’s Brianna Atkinson gets perspectives from UNC System ADs about how they are spending revenue from sports gambling tax revenue which has far exceeded expectations. Winston-Salem State is using the funds to upgrade basketball and tennis facilities, locker rooms, fueling station and more. AD Etienne Thomas on the impact as the Rams push to become a top DII program: “You want to have the best facilities you can have, and not just those that you patchwork together. […] To be a powerhouse in Division II — not just in the state, not just in our conference — you're looking at about a $7 million budget. So, you're talking about $3 million, $3.5 million annually in sports betting.” The revenue is helping cover what would otherwise be a $1.7M deficit for UNC Pembroke. AD Dick Christy: “We were getting further and further in the red, making it harder and harder to provide a sustainable experience. So, sports betting has really been very timely for us to be able to not have to go backwards on the type of services we're providing. And actually be able to get ahead, maybe, on chipping into that deficit.” Christy notes that the department would need at least $2M annually from gambling revenue to make it sustainable. Further, Christy tells Atkinson the reliability of this revenue will have a direct impact on being able to achieve the Braves’ championship goals. (link)

@1QLeadership Question: What does it mean to be better tomorrow than you are today?

In this 1Q episode from 2019, Coach Grant Teaff, former Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association and longtime Baylor University football coach, talks with Tai M. Brown about the phrase "Be Better Tomorrow Than You Are Today." Teaff, long known as an expert on influential leadership, discusses the inherent meaning of the phrase that Brown regularly uses to close each episode of the One Question Leadership Podcast. 🎧 on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Another first-ever legal situation as Wisconsin (DI)-to-Miami (FL - DI) football student-athlete Xavier Lucas says he will enroll in Coral Gables without entering the transfer portal. Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger with context: “The move, for now, avoids a legal filing. (Lucas’ attorney Darren) Heitner had planned to file suit against the NCAA and Wisconsin over antitrust claims related to the situation, accusing Wisconsin of blatantly violating NCAA rules by not inserting Lucas’ name into the portal as he requested and questioning the legality of the NCAA’s transfer portal. Wisconsin officials have remained quiet on the situation. However, the school is declining to enter Lucas into the portal as he signed a two-year revenue-share agreement last month before requesting a transfer.” Hanging in the balance is the Big Ten-templated agreement Lucas inked with the Badgers that precludes his NIL to be used by any other school. Heitner points to extenuating circumstances, including a life-threatening illness suffered by Lucas’ father, that should have led to Lucas going into the portal in common fashion. The NCAA added a statement to the situation: “NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately.” Lots more. (link)

Sportico’s Michael McCann writes on the DOJ’s move: “In addition to the lateness of this filing and the fact that Trump’s DOJ isn’t bound by it, it is also important to remember that a settlement reflects a give-and-take. As their attorneys have implied during court hearings, the NCAA and the power conferences wouldn’t have agreed to settle if the result was an unrestrained free market for college sports. The $21 million cap reflects that bargain. It is a cost control that made a settlement sensible for the NCAA and its president, Charlie Baker. It also made sense for the players’ attorneys. They might have won the cases and forced a free market, but the litigation would have been tied up in appeals for many years. They might have also lost, which is a point that is often overlooked—just because Wilken found the NCAA’s defenses unpersuasive, doesn’t mean a jury would.” More. (link)

Gannon officially opened Highmark Events Center this past week after a $12M renovation. Women’s Basketball HC Cleve Wright: “What I love, and this is what we'd been missing for a year, is our players can come in here (to Highmark) and shoot just about anytime they want to. It's nice for me too, because now I also can just walk from my office and go to the floor.” Check it out. (link)

Northwest Missouri State is expanding its partnership with Mosaic Medical Center to increase the number of athletic trainers provided by Mosaic from two to all seven of the Bearcats’ positions. AD Andy Peterson: “With this partnership, we're ensuring the sustainability of athletic training coverage and care for all of our student-athletes. It allows us to have proper staffing to help our programs succeed in competition and recovery.” (link)

It’s Personnel:

+ Cal Poly Pomona taps Claremont McKenna (DIII) Asst. Director of Athletics Advancement Kevin Gomez as Asst. AD for Development. (link)

+ Lenoir Rhyne Women’s Soccer HC Joanna Fennema has departed after one season to become the Assoc. HC at North Carolina State (DI). (link)

+ This morning’s edition of Coaches.wire tracks all the movement on coaching staffs across all sports in the past several days. Check it out. (link)

More Higher Ed:

+ Frostburg State President Ronald Nowaczyk will step down at the end of the month, citing health issues. (link)

+ Common App applications increased five percent last year compared to 2023-24, with applications to public schools (11%) growing far faster than private members (3%). Regionally, the southwest grew the fastest of any region in the country at 33%. (link)

President Donald Trump confirms his intention to disband the Department of Education, saying in a speech yesterday that he told incoming Education Secretary Linda McMahon: "If you do a great job, you will put yourself out of a job because you're going to be sending it back to the states. She’s fantastic and her staff, which has been largely hired, is fantastic.” (link)

While the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the government’s ban on TikTok, Trump said he plans to issue an executive order “to extend the period of time before the [law banning TikTok] takes effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.” Trump also indicated he would like the U.S. to own 50% in a joint venture operating the app. TikTok in a statement: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170M Americans and allowing over 7M small businesses to thrive.” (link)

Inside Higher Ed’s Bob Moser catches up with multiple higher ed leaders who share their greatest hopes and fears for the second Trump administration, and Association of American Universities President Barbara Snyder explains: “President Trump has repeatedly said he wants to make America great and keep us ahead of China and other competitor nations. I am optimistic that he will support policies and investments that ensure the United States continues to be the world’s leader in scientific research. The president and Congress can secure that position by both increasing our public investments in cutting-edge research and by promoting policies that make it easy for the world’s best and brightest technological and scientific minds to study, work and stay here and advance U.S. innovation and economic growth. My single greatest fear would be that some might try to convince the president to pull back these investments in America’s greatness and close ourselves off from the global talent and knowledge that has helped make our country great. I hope that he and Congress will resist that shortsightedness.” American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell: “We’re encouraged by the emphasis the incoming Trump administration and the new Congress have placed on issues such as transparency and accountability related to student outcomes. This isn’t new, and it isn’t partisan, but meaningful change is long overdue. My biggest worry is that in attempting to pay for major spending cuts and pass tax legislation, the administration and Congress will do the shortsighted thing and enact policies like cuts to student financial aid and research funding.” Lots more from around the industry. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

Director of Athletics (Rowan University / Glassboro, NJ): Establishes policies and procedures that achieve the parallel goals of developing quality, competitive athletics teams and supporting the individual educational goals of student-athletes. (DIII) More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (St. Olaf College / Northfield, MN): The Director of Athletics is responsible for the leadership and management of the intercollegiate athletics program. St. Olaf College is a NCAA Division III athletics program. (DIII) More details HERE.

Director of Equipment Operations (Tarleton State University / Stephenville, TX): The Director for Equipment Operations is a highly skilled and motivated individual who serves in a leadership role and is responsible for managing the equipment operations for all Division I sports. (DI) More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Columbus State University / Columbus, GA): The Athletic Director provides strategic vision and direction for the athletic department and competitive intercollegiate sports program. More details HERE.

Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics (Kentucky Wesleyan College / Owensboro, KY): VP provides strategic leadership of our NCAA DII athletics program. Responsibilities include recruiting and managing staff, fundraising, ensuring compliance, and community engagement. Go Panthers! More details HERE.

Athletics Graphic Designer/Content Creator (University of Dayton / Dayton, OH): This position will be the primary designer of graphics for the external and internal needs of the Dayton Flyers. (DI) More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (St. Mary's University – Texas / San Antonio, TX): The Assistant Athletic Trainer is responsible for recognizing, treating, rehabilitating, and providing care and first aid to St. Mary's University intercollegiate student-athletes year-round. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics (Lock Haven University / Lock Haven, PA): Lead the Bald Eagles in providing a holistic experience for nearly 500 student athletes, inspiring extraordinary accomplishments in academic achievement, athletic competition and civic engagement. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Financial Officer (University of North Georgia / Dahlonega, GA): The Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior leadership position within the university's highly competitive NCAA Division II athletic department. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Athletics for the AHP Air Dome and Athletics Administration (LeTourneau University / Longview, TX): Responsible for the management of the new Athletic & Human Performance Air Dome athletic facility. (DIII) More details HERE.

Head Men's Soccer Coach (South Dakota Mines / Rapid City, SD): This is an NCAA DII head coaching opportunity at one of the top STEM institutions in the nation, located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. More details HERE.

Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Financial Officer (University of Arkansas at Little Rock / Little Rock, AR): Little Rock Athletics seeks a Deputy AD/CFO who will serve as a member of the Leadership Team and provide oversight of financial operations, budget planning, & fiscal management for the Department. (DI) More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletics Director – Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) (University of Arkansas at Little Rock / Little Rock, AR): Little Rock Athletics seeks a Senior Associate AD–Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS). Serves as member of Leadership Team & fosters success and development of student-athletes. (DI) More details HERE.

Chief Development Officer (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Reporting to the VP & Director of Athletics, the CDO for Arizona Athletics leads the department’s comprehensive development strategy, overseeing major gifts, annual giving, and donor engagement. (DI) More details HERE.

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.

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.

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