
Excel Search & Advisory is built for the future of college athletics. Powered by Excel Sports Management, we have been trusted by premier global sports brands to identify leaders for more than two decades. As campus demand for revenue and success continues to grow, click here to learn how we help the best in the world meet the challenge.

The top ten most-clicked jobs of the week...
#10: UC Davis: Assistant AD for Business Operations
#9: Western Michigan: Director of Athletics
#8: William & Mary: Associate AD of Compliance
#7: Spartan Ventures (Michigan State): Director, Business Office
#6: Syracuse: Director of Athletics Budget and Finance
#5: Michigan: Associate Director of Development, East Coast Region
#4: Iowa State: Jamie and Ellen Pollard Endowed Director of Athletics
#3: Cal State Fullerton: Associate Athletic Director
#2: Kansas: Assistant AD for Development
#1: Atlantic 10 Conference: Chief Revenue/Chief Marketing Officer

#10: Texas Chief of Staff/Executive Senior Assoc. AD/SWA Chris Plonsky plans to retire from her role at the conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year after 39 total years on the Forty Acres. (link)
#9: Introducing… The Trojan Beer Sword. For $31.83 after tax, the 20 oz. beer swords were just one of a handful of new concessions offerings at The Coliseum for USC's home football opener. Other new offerings included a Coliseum popcorn bucket, a mini-cooler filled with one's beverage of choice and a drum filled with loaded fries. (link)
#8: Delaware unveils a refreshed version of its Fightin' Blue Hen D mark, featuring bolder outlines and strokes along with the school's current blue and gold colors. The UnvaulteD design will be featured during designated throwback games across multiple varsity programs throughout the 2026-27 athletics year, with participating teams incorporating the logo into exclusive coaches' sideline apparel. Football plans to spotlight the mark during its homecoming matchup against FIU on November 14. (link)
#7: USF initiated a comprehensive rebranding to eliminate the USF acronym across all digital platforms, uniforms, and broadcasting graphics and be referred to as South Florida, instead. Bulls’ AD Rob Higgins led the rebrand to establish national clarity and avoid frequent media confusion with UCF, the University of San Francisco, and the University of Sioux Falls. South Florida retains its traditional Bulls horns logo but now instructs television network announcers to exclusively use the full geographic name during live game broadcasts. Higgins: "I think when you look at really strong brands, it starts with consistency. And I think at times we've moved around in terms of what we've leaned into as an athletic program. And depending on the sport and across our 21 sports, we haven't had the consistency necessary to have a really strong brand identity. … You'll see that through social as well, and making sure we're building as much equity as we possibly can, especially when you think about all the momentum we have, as well as this overall athletic district really coming together in a profound way.” (link)
#6: Saving College Sports has released its latest 30-second ad in support of the Protect College Sports Act, featuring former Alabama Football HC and current ESPN analyst Nick Saban. Take a look. (link)
#5: ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Gardner-Webb is dismissing first-year Football HC Kris McCullough, following his suspension earlier this week by the school “pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.” (link)
#4: Bruin Report Online's Tracy Pierson with a key update on the leadership change at UCLA: “There is a bit of news we’re reporting here, and it’s a clarification: [Tim] Harris is the permanent head of UCLA athletics. The appointment of Harris was announced as being on a pro bono and interim basis but, according to sources, Harris and Chancellor Frenk have agreed to Harris being permanent CEO. His title is CEO and Director of Athletics. The terms of the agreement will be worked out at a later date – when Harris and Frenk have time to take a breath. Undoubtedly they’ll get in some facetime with each other this weekend, since we’ve heard both Frenk and Harris plan to attend the UCLA football game in Berkeley on Saturday.” (link)
#3: Sam Houston AD Bobby Williams will retire at the end of this academic year as the longest tenured DI AD in the country. President Alisa White: “Bobby Williams' extraordinary tenure has helped shape Sam Houston Athletics and strengthen our university in lasting ways. His commitment to student-athletes, coaches and staff, along with his leadership through a transformational period for our athletics program, has created a legacy that will be felt for generations. We are grateful for his 45 years of service to Sam Houston and for the lasting impact he and his family have made on our Bearkat community.” (link)
#2: Tennessee unveils the helmet decal the Vols will wear in honor of Dolly Parton this season. (link)
#1: UCLA parts ways with AD Martin Jarmond after six years, per the California Post’s Ben Bolch. Chancellor Julio Frenk in a message to campus: “UCLA must have an athletics model that leads — not just keeps pace. … UCLA Athletics currently carries a significant financial deficit, and its current path is not sustainable. Now is the moment to build a model for Athletics that protects the breadth of our program, creates new opportunities for student-athletes and coaches, and supports itself through the revenue it generates. I believe UCLA should help lead the transformation of intercollegiate athletics: our future must be shaped by purpose — not by pressure.” Jarmond will be owed the roughly $5.9M left on his contract. (link)









