#10: Newberry promotes Senior Assoc. AD Wayne Alexander to Deputy AD. (link)
|
#9: West Texas A&M taps Blinn (NJCAA) Women’s Volleyball HC Terry Gamble for the same role with the Buffs. (link) |
#8: West Alabama selects former Georgia (DI) Strength & Conditioning Coach/AC Scott Cochran as its new Football HC. President Todd Fritch: “His dynamic coaching style, combined with his dedication to fostering both athletic and academic excellence, aligns perfectly with our values. We are confident that he will build on our program's strong foundation and lead our student-athletes to success on and off the field.” (link)
|
#7: Commonwealth University faculty and coaches will hold a no-confidence vote on President Bashar Hanna in two weeks. (link)
|
#6: Following the filing of Wisconsin (DI) Football student-athlete Nyzier Fourqurean's lawsuit, PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray: “Okay….I’ve seen enough! I’m sorry, but this is crazy crazy! Let’s go to 5 year clock once you step on campus, no waivers, no exceptions, nothing. Just monitor progress towards degree standards. If you can play 5 seasons, great, if you can’t then aw shucks, you got your degree!” (link); Gulf South Commissioner Matt Wilson responds: “DII needs to initiate a broad eligibility review immediately. @PSACcommish idea was one I added as a topic for ‘Think Tank’ but was not prioritized by participants, What if you get 3 or 4 years of D2 eligibility if you complete your AA degree? […] Division II needs to further distinguish ourselves from D3 and NAIA. In light of new litigation, a broad eligibility review may give us that opportunity. We also need either a new committee or new staff focused on strategic initiatives & discussions for D2. […] I think the way we do eligibility, how we run championships, and the access we give to those championships are things we need to double down on. There are plenty of D2 schools operating athletics on a D3 model with modest scholarships.” (link, link)
|
#5: Nebraska-Kearney Football has been placed on probation for two years following recruiting violations by former HC Josh Lynn and two ACs. News Channel Nebraska’s Michael Shively: “Assistant coaches used university money to pay for one-way airfare for six football recruits, provided or paid for transportation and provided hotel lodging for some of the recruits. The total value of the impermissible benefits was $1,872. The benefits are impermissible because the NCAA requires recruits to return home in order for a trip to qualify as an official visit. At least some of the recruits never returned home and participated in preseason practice soon after arriving. The infractions came to light after Lynn left UNK for West Texas A&M in Dec. 2022. West Texas self-reported a similar violation in summer of 2023 and told the NCAA that Lynn said he used the same approach at UNK.” Penalties include 83 fewer official paid recruiting visits, a vacation of 32 games that three recruits participated in, and a fine of $3,744. (link)
|
#4: Take a look at some of the digital and social graphics from DII Football programs during National Signing Day. (link) |
#3: The DII Management Council has authorized a comprehensive eligibility review through the Academic Requirements Committee and Legislation Committee after recent legal action (more on that below). The council did not, however, decide to issue a blanket waiver for those who previously competed at non-NCAA institutions to retain their eligibility for this academic year, similar to the one issued in DI. In response, PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray: “Today DII Management Council chose to try and restore sanity to the extension of eligibility that has been circulating in the NCAA. 6, 7, 8 years of eligibility is not appropriate for D2 Athletes. We should be about completing degrees, not how long you can stay in college and play. Glad D2 ManCo is establishing a comprehensive review of eligibility. I like the 5 year, no waiver idea. But what I do know, is D2 does the best job of figuring out solutions to our problems….when we work together. And we will.” MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy with a different perspective: “I guess your National Representatives on the Management Council believe that your work in helping JUCO transfer student-athletes continue their D2 education through competition is not as important as it is for your D1 colleagues.” (link, link)
|
#2: St. Thomas Aquinas promotes Assoc. AD Margaret Alaimo to AD. Prior to joining STAC, Alaimo served as the AD at St. Joseph's (Brooklyn - DIII). (link) |
#1: Colorado State Pueblo President Armando Valdez has resigned for violating an undisclosed university policy. (link) |
|
|
