Edition #1816
October 30, 2026
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NCAA President Charlie Baker joined the SportsWise Podcast with Gabe Feldman to discuss the Protect College Sports Act and more. Here are some takeaways…
➤ Asked about the prospects for the PCSA in this Congress, Baker remains cautiously optimistic: “I do think the amount of traffic that’s taken place in the last few lame duck sessions does give me some optimism that we could end up being part of that back and forth that’ll take place. Literally the last couple of Congresses, more than half of the legislation they passed in the lame duck.”
➤ Expanding the revenue and audience base for non-football championships: "Our database is everything but FBS football. Schools have lots of data on that, but we have tons of data on all the other sports. And I think there's a real opportunity here for us to work together to grow the game and the visibility associated with all those other sports. And to me, that's a big part of this conversation because if the football program is still the mechanism on which you support and pay for the deficits that are running so many of your other programs, I think it's a much more challenging argument to make. The goal here should be to raise the revenue base for many of those other sports." (link)
The Gulf South will stop sponsoring football after this academic year. Delta State will compete as an independent, with AD Mike Kinnison telling SuperTalk Mississippi Media’s Griffin Ray: “All of this has to be balanced with financial capability to meet the demands of increased travel over larger distances.” (link)
Delta State leadership held a press conference to discuss the future of the football program and the GSC. President Dan Ennis: “I want to emphasize the Gulf South Conference is an excellent conference and is extraordinarily healthy in everything but football. It's a terrific conference for all of our other sports. And as a founding member of the conference, Delta State has an investment in the Gulf South.” Key takeaways…
➤ Asked about the prospect of changing divisions, Ennis dispelled any potential for moving to DI, citing the drastic increase in expenses necessary to compete and the reliance on alumni giving to support that growth. Currently DSU’s budget is $5.9M, below the DII football-playing member median of $6.5M, with fundraising supporting 12-14% of their budget. The FCS median budget was $17M before the explosion in NIL and revenue-sharing. As for DIII, Ennis says DSU could save around $1.5M in expenses, but the drop in alumni interest and giving would be more damaging than $1.5M. Ennis also expects the football program to have to fly to a game or two as an independent. “We could probably see a 30 to 40% increase, maybe even 50% increase just in football operations costs.”
➤ Ennis believes the requirement for schools to play a non-conference, in-region opponent to be eligible for postseason will be beneficial for the program. DSU and West Alabama are looking for multi-year scheduling agreements with leagues to find more stability. As for a new conference home for football, Ennis has had conversations with the GAC and SIAC but neither is interested in a scheduling agreement at this time. AD Mike Kinnison on scheduling alliances: “We're optimistic that the MIAA is on a level ground with us and that may be well for us a home-and-home type of relationship. But the previous Conference Carolina's relationship is just what I told you. We pay them to come here and play us, but then we return the trip and it's our expense to play them.”
➤ Building the schedule, Ennis: “As much as I worry about Delta State's budget, I am not supportive of them, not interested in and not willing to sign off on money games. I think we can beat any DII game in the country, but I'm not going to pay our bills by sending our guys to get trampled by a team with twice as many scholarships and NIL budget. We don't need to do that and we're not going to do that. So we're looking at DII programs.” Kinnison: “We're going to have to buy some games. We're going to have to pay some people to play us. And that's factual. We're going to have to travel more than we have been. And I hope it's a one- or two-year solution before something more permanent and financially sound comes our way. But if we're going to continue to have football, I think those are two things we have to look at.” (link)
The NCAA is officially participating in the Bad Actor Program initiative to target online harassment and betting-related abuse directed at student-athletes, coaches and officials. Developed by Integrity Compliance 360 and Signify Group alongside Fanatics Sportsbook, the program tracks online offenders to support enforcement measures such as bans from participating sportsbooks. The partnership follows an initial study that flagged over 5K verified abusive posts during championship events, with sports betting directly linked to 12% of all verified abuse, increasing to 19% in men’s basketball. The NCAA’s 2025 GOALS study separately found that 51% of DI men’s basketball student-athletes received social media abuse tied to performance, while 46% received negative or threatening messages from bettors. (link)
Nebraska-Kearney administration and coaches chatted with The Antelope’s Peyton Komenda and Kennedy Dubas about the new age-based eligibility model and how it is impacting the Lopers so far. Assoc. AD for Compliance and Student Services/SWA Rachel Page says the department has let coaches decide how to allocate their scholarship budgets and who to bring back for a fifth season, if available. “This occurred so quickly and they didn’t have a ton of warning. I know some programs are going to have to fundraise more to be able to have both. … After these first couple years though I think they will be able to change their strategies and adjust to the change.” Women’s Volleyball HC Rick Squiers: “You are going to see it become difficult for high school athletes to get recruited to Division II or even Division I schools right out of high school. You might see most of them go from NAIA or JUCO up to Division II or I depending on what is available if and when they decide to transfer. …I think that this is something that clears a lot of things up and will be really good for athletics after the transition period.” (link)
Daemen unveils its new “The Wildcat Way” five-year strategic vision. The plan’s six core values: Fearless: Dedication to a Championship Mindset; Integrity: Allegiance to Our Wildcat Culture; Effort: Progressive Communication Strategies; Respect: Cultivating a Wildcat Community Where Every Member Is Welcomed, Valued, and Belongs; Commitment: Comprehensive Development of Student-Athletes; and Engagement: Forging an Interconnected Wildcat Community. AD Travi Murphy: “Every pillar of this plan was shaped by working groups of coaches, administrators, alumni, and student-athletes who reviewed what we accomplished together in the previous five years, celebrated our progress, and challenged us to aim higher. … We enter this next chapter as Daemen University — a university with national aspirations and a Division II athletics program that reflects those ambitions. We have built something here in Western New York that is worth competing for, and this plan charts the path forward.” (link, link - full plan)
Trevacca Nazarene launches the $1M The Standard Deserves a Stadium fundraising initiative to upgrade its Softball Complex. Enhancement would include permanent grandstand seating, press box, new turf infield and more. AD Mark Elliott: “The Standard Deserves a Stadium initiative is a necessary step in helping our softball program maintain its competitiveness in the Gulf South Conference and across the region. Our softball team has consistently performed at a level that exceeds the investment reflected in its current facility. Enhancements are needed to strengthen our recruiting efforts, improve the fan experience, and provide the technology and broadcasting infrastructure necessary to support the program. This project represents an achievable opportunity to address an immediate need while building momentum for continued investment in Trevecca Athletics.” (link)
Georgia College raised over $243K from 1,368 gifts for athletics. (link)
People & Places…
➤ Missouri-St. Louis selects University System of Georgia Executive Vice Chancellor/Chief Academic Officer Ashwani Monga as its next chancellor. (link)
➤ Minnesota Duluth Football HC Curt Wiese will miss tomorrow’s game against Jamestown due to a personal health matter. (link)
➤ Texas A&M-Kingsville names South Florida (DI) Esports HC Tony Kramer to the same position with the Javelinas. (link)
Preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center of 46% of institutions shows public and private four-year undergraduate year-over-year enrollment is steady, up 0.3% and flat, respectively. Graduate enrollment at public and private institutions fell 2.1% and 1.4%, respectively, as master’s program enrollment dropped 3.7% YoY. Louisiana saw the biggest year-over-year jump in undergraduate students, with a 7.8% increase in students. From fall 2024 to fall 2026, Kentucky (+9.6%), Idaho (+8.2%), North Carolina (+7.2%), New Mexico (+7.0%) and Texas (+6.3%) saw the most growth. On the other end, Vermont has seen the largest two-year drop in undergraduate students at 5.4%. Among the top major fields, Health Professions and Engineering saw the largest increases, up over 6% each, while computer and information science enrollment plummeted 12.4%. Senior Research Director Matthew Holsapple: “The important change this fall isn’t widespread decline; it’s the loss of that broad-based growth we saw last year.” (link, link - data)
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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)
(NEW!) Director of Athletics (University of Alabama at Birmingham / Birmingham, AL): UAB seeks an experienced athletics leader to drive competitive success, financial growth, compliance, and student-athlete development through strategic leadership. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Birmingham? Click HERE.
(NEW!) Associate Director, Athletic Operations and Facilities (University of California, Merced (UC Merced) / Merced, CA): Senior leader overseeing game operations, facilities and sport supervision at the highest ranked academic institution in NCAA D2. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Director of Athletics (Susquehanna University / Selinsgrove, PA): Susquehanna University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of director of athletics. (DIII) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Selinsgrove? Click HERE.
(NEW!) Associate Commissioner, Sports Administration and Championships/Men’s Basketball (Mountain West Conference / Las Vegas, NV): The Associate Commissioner will serve the Conference and its member institutions to oversee and lead all aspects of the Conference’s men’s basketball enterprise. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Las Vegas? Click HERE.
Director of the Adams/Wyche Center for Academic Success (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Director of Athletic Academic Center. Responsible for Student-Athlete success, development, and well-being. More details HERE.
Senior Associate Commissioner for Institutional Services (Mid-American Conference / Cleveland, OH): The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as Senior Associate Commissioner for Institutional Services. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Cleveland? Click HERE.
Assistant Director of Sports Medicine/Athletic Trainer (Adams State University / Alamosa, CO): Assistant Director of Sports Medicine/Athletic Trainer. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Adams State University / Alamosa, CO): Assistant Athletic Trainer at Adams State University. More details HERE.
Executive Associate Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Development (Fairfield University / Fairfield, CT): Seeking a dynamic, accomplished, and highly motivated Executive Associate Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Development to lead its athletic fundraising program. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Fairfield? Click HERE.
Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations (Albany State University / Albany, GA): Help shape the future of Golden Rams Athletics by leading financial operations, strengthening fiscal accountability, and supporting the continued growth of our 12 NCAA Division II programs. More details HERE.
Director for Athletic Communications (West Texas A&M University / Canyon, TX): Media/public relations. Record books, releases, previews & feature articles. Maintain Athletics website, historical records & stats. Supervise press box/scorer's table staff. Submit nominations. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Full Time Assistant Athletic Trainer. More details HERE.
Men's Assistant Coach (Swarthmore College / Swarthmore, PA): Swarthmore College Men's Lacrosse is hiring an assistant coach. Duties include recruiting, logistics and on field coaching. Send resume to [email protected] (DIII) More details HERE.
Head Coach – Men’s & Women’s Swimming and Diving (Roberts Wesleyan University / Rochester, NY): Build a competitive NCAA Division II swimming and diving program at Roberts Wesleyan University through strategic recruiting, dynamic coaching, and transformative student-athlete development. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Rochester? Click HERE.
Internal Operations/Facilities and Event Management Graduate Assistant (Fort Hays State University / Hays, KS): Fort Hays State University seeks a graduate assistant for internal operations and event facility management for the athletic department. More details HERE.
Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer for Athletics - (ATH00000504) (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): The Deputy Athletic Director serves as the Chief Development Officer for SMU Athletics, providing strategic leadership for all philanthropic efforts supporting Mustang Athletics. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Dallas? Click HERE.
Associate Director of Development - Major Gifts (Purdue University / West Lafayette, IN): Build meaningful relationships, inspire transformational giving, and help shape the future of Purdue Athletics through philanthropy, alumni engagement, and major gifts. (DI) More details HERE.
Associate Athletic Director for Sports Analytics (William & Mary / Williamsburg, VA): The Associate AD for Sports Analytics leads the department's strategy for data, analytics, and artificial intelligence across all 23 varsity sports. (DI) More details HERE.
Director, Governance and Compliance (Mountain West Conference / Las Vegas, NV): The Director, Governance & Compliance will serve the Mountain West Conference and its member institutions supporting the day-to-day aspects of the Conference’s governance and compliance services. (DI) More details HERE.
Assistant Softball Coach (Quincy University / Quincy, IL): Quincy University, an NCAA Division II institution and member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, invites applications for the position of Assistant Softball Coach. More details HERE.
Coordinator of Internal Operations (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania / Kutztown, PA): The Coordinator for Internal Operations, Athletics position is a full-time 10-month position within the Department of Athletics. More details HERE.
Aquatics and Facilities Coordinator (Black Hills State University / Spearfish, SD): This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated professional who enjoys leadership, event operations, facility management, and collaboration in a dynamic collegiate athletics environment. More details HERE.
Deputy Director of Athletics, Title IX Coordinator (California State University – San Marcos / San Marcos, CA): Come join an amazing NCAA DII institution competing in the CCAA conference who values the student-athlete experience, academics, athletics, and the holistic development of our student-athletes. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to San Marcos? Click HERE.
Assistant Vice President, Licensing & Trademarks (University of Houston / Houston, TX): Lead the University of Houston System's licensing & trademarks strategy, protecting institutional brands and driving revenue through high-impact partnerships and innovative licensing programs. (DI) More details HERE.
Faculty | Athletic Training/Kinesiology (University of Mary / Bismarck, ND): The Assistant Professor is responsible for teaching assigned courses, advising students, advising research projects, maintaining/obtaining contemporary expertise, and other duties as assigned. More details HERE.