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Valdosta State announces it will leave the GSC for the Peach Belt starting in 2027-28. The Blazers are set to compete as an independent in football “for the foreseeable future and will continue to pursue football conference affiliations and strong scheduling partnerships,” per AD Troy Katen, who adds: "Membership in the PBC will reduce travel and give our student-athletes more time in the classroom. It will also give our families, fans and alumni more chances to cheer on the Blazers. In addition, it will strengthen our recruiting within our regional footprint. The Peach Belt has a long tradition of success, and we look forward to helping raise its profile even further on the national stage." Per VSU, the university did explore a potential move to DI before deciding to join the PBC. (link, link)

NCAA President Charlie Baker believes the Protect College Sports Act still has a strong chance of House action after the midterms despite concerns about the legislation’s passage. Speaking at Puck’s In the Arena conference, Baker stopped short of predicting it would pass in the upcoming lame-duck session, per SBJ’s Ben Fischer, arguing the bill was ripe for serious consideration as part of political horse trading between Senate and House leadership. “There’s a whole bunch of stuff the House has passed that’s sitting in the Senate. There’s a whole bunch of stuff the Senate’s passed that’s sitting in the House ... I don’t know if we end up being part of those conversations or not, but I think it’s just as likely as not that we will, because we are something that got a profoundly significant overwhelmingly positive vote in the Senate.” Asked by Puck’s John Ourand about which parts of the bill he doesn’t support, Baker responded: “When I was governor, I signed hundreds of bills. I never signed a bill that was perfect. There’s always stuff in there you don’t like, OK? That’s called democracy. I think this thing is much better for college sports than not.” (link)

House members are preparing to make what could be significant revisions to the Senate-passed Protect College Sports Act, per Ross Dellenger, who writing for On3, notes such changes threaten to ignite a major procedural battle between the two legislative chambers ahead of Congress’ final day on December 18. There are plenty of “pain points” for House lawmakers, such as the absence of a prohibition against student-athletes being classified as employees, the inclusion of a private-right-of-action concept allowing players to sue institutions and federal oversight caps on conference expansion. Senate leadership insists the current draft is a non-starter for major House amendments, with one “leading voice” in the Senate saying that wholesale House alterations stand to torpedo the bill entirely or trigger retaliatory Senate additions, including salary caps for HCs, ADs and university presidents; mandatory one-year non-compete periods for changing jobs; and potential threats to universities' tax-exempt status. (link)

The Washington Sun’s Reese Gorman and Jesse Dougherty report the major sticking point House Republicans have with the legislation is its failure to prevent student-athletes from gaining employee status. The House-backed SCORE Act, which stalled out and ultimately died in the legislative body earlier this year, barred college athletes from becoming employees, which has long been a goal of the NCAA. The PCSA, however, is neutral on employment, even if labor advocates believe its antitrust protections for the NCAA and conferences would stunt future organizing efforts. “If House Republicans insist on adding an employment ban to this bill, that could affect support among Democrats in the Senate. [Sen. Maria Cantwell] fought hard for the PCSA to avoid the employment question. … To support the bill, those Democrats all broke with the AFL-CIO, which vehemently opposes the legislation. A full-on employment restriction, though, would conceivably be a no-go for many Democratic backers.” In addition, the bill’s failure to impose limits on athletic scholarships for international student-athletes and provisions on conference expansion and realignment have raised concern. (link)

Lee promotes AD John Maupin to VP for Athletics and Student Life. President Phil Cook: “John has spent nearly two decades serving Lee and investing in the success of our students. His experience as a coach and athletic director, along with his understanding of our campus community, will serve him well in this expanded role.” (link)

Southwest Minnesota State receives a record $5.5M gift from the Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation to support the Southwest Minnesota Indoor Sports and Recreation Dome. AD Travis Whipple: “Simply put, this is a game-changer for our region, community, SMSU, and all Mustangs! Tremendous alignment has been evident at every step, with an emphasis on how impactful this will be. We will look back on today as one of those defining moments in our history. One that propelled the Mustangs to new heights and helped us reach for more. We are incredibly grateful for this generous support and belief in our future.” (link)

Check out Southwest Minnesota State’s new video board at its PE Gym. (link)

U.S. District Judge Tiffany Johnson has tossed out a lawsuit led by former college swimmer Riley Gaines against the NCAA, alleging it violated her rights when it allowed transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Per Politico’s Bianca Quilantan, Gaines and more than a dozen other current and former college student-athletes sued the association in 2024 under Title IX, with the NCAA's now defunct policy allowing transgender women to compete on sports teams and to utilize facilities that align with their gender identity at the center of the suit. Johnson ruled Monday the NCAA isn’t covered by Title IX because “there is no evidence that the NCAA received federal financial assistance” from the federal government. Gaines said in a statement that she will be appealing the decision. “This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least. Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA. Working together we will defeat the NCAA’s continuing efforts to trample women’s rights in sports.” (link)

Deal Corner…
➤ The NSIC partners with Athletic Solutions to be the league’s official online NIL store provider. (link)
➤ Clayton State teams up with HomeTown Ticketing as its new ticketing provider. (link)
➤ The SIAC will add Virginia State as an affiliate member in men’s tennis this season. (link)

People & Places…
➤ Cal State Dominguez Hills Interim President Mary Ann Villarreal will continue leading the university through the 2028-29 academic year. (link)
➤ Lincoln (MO) Assoc. AD for Compliance and Student Success Fred Holmes is headed to Colorado College (DIII) as its new Assoc. AD for Compliance, Student-Athlete Success and Operations. (link)
➤ Sioux Falls promotes Athletics Administration GA Logan Anderson to Asst. AD for Internal Operations, Communication & Ticketing. (link)
➤ Lake Erie names NCA Instructor Braylen Harris as its new STUNT HC. (link) 

Brookings Institution senior fellow Phillip Levine contends the recent surge in colleges offering free tuition based on household income serves as an effective messaging tool to prevent prospective students from being deterred by high sticker prices, and Inside Higher Ed's Olivia Sanchez notes that schools that report these transparent pricing models successfully drive enrollment interest among lower- and middle-income demographics. Rice (DI) VP for Enrollment Yvonne Romero explains that students previously excluded themselves without realizing they qualified for aid against the school's $97K cost of attendance. Rice now covers full tuition and living expenses for families earning under $100K, while Colby (DIII) caps family contributions at $20K for households earning between $150K and $200K. Levine emphasized that simplified financial models are critical for maintaining socioeconomic diversity following the Supreme Court's restriction on affirmative action: "Their main contribution is a one-sentence communication device to get across the point that college might be less expensive than you think. For many students, it’s just communicated to them the assistance of financial aid that already existed. They already would have gotten free tuition—they just didn’t know it." (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)

(NEW!) 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.

(NEW!) 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.

(NEW!) 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.

IPP Strength and Conditioning Program Specialist (University of North Georgia / Dahlonega, GA): This position directs and coordinates the University's strength and conditioning program to support the physical readiness and tactical durability for the Corps of Cadets. More details HERE.

Vice President and Director of Athletics (Rice University / Houston, TX): Rice seeks a strategic athletics leader to drive championship success, strengthen student-athlete experiences, grow revenue, elevate Rice nationally, and navigate college athletics’ evolving landscape. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Houston? Click HERE. The D1.dossier for this position can be found HERE. 

Senior Vice President - Men's Basketball (Atlantic Coast Conference / Charlotte, NC): Senior leader for ACC Men’s Basketball, driving competitive success, national profile, championship experience and commercial value while overseeing scheduling, officiating and key partnerships. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Charlotte? Click HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications (Lawrence University / Appleton, WI): This position plays a key role in elevating the visibility of Lawrence Athletics through strategic media relations, digital content creation, live streaming management, and statistical services. (DIII) More details HERE.

Live Video Production Coordinator (Black Hills State University / Spearfish, SD): Join an energetic team to enhance fan engagement and student-athlete experience through exceptional game-day productions and digital storytelling. More details HERE.

Athletics Business Associate (University of Illinois Springfield / Springfield, IL): Lead the business and HR operations for athletics, including providing insight into budgets, policies and staff hiring. Serves on senior staff. Has opportunity for athletics administration duties. More details HERE.

Athletic Trainer (University of Kansas / Lawrence, KS): Kansas Team Health and University of Kansas Athletics are seeking qualified candidates to work as part of a medical model and collaborative team while providing care for our Track & Field Program. (DI) More details HERE.

Commissioner (Southern Conference / Spartanburg, SC): Reporting to the Council of Presidents, the Commissioner serves as the Conference's chief executive officer, providing strategic, administrative, and external leadership for member institutions. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Spartanburg? Click HERE.

Associate Athletic Trainer Instructor – Department of Kinesiology (St. Edward's University / Austin, TX): The Associate Athletic Trainer position will work in conjunction with the Head Athletic Trainer to coordinate the care of student-athletes on a day-to-day basis. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (St. Edward's University / Austin, TX): The Athletic Trainer position will work in conjunction with the Head Athletic Trainer to coordinate the care of student athletes on a day-to-day basis. More details HERE.

Director of Sports Performance (University of North Georgia / Dahlonega, GA): . The director will lead a high-performance environment that supports the development, health and success of all UNG student-athletes. More details HERE.

Athletic Event & Facility Operations Specialist (Fort Hays State University / Hays, KS): The Athletic Events and Facilities Specialist assists with maintaining & preparing facilities to ensure a safe, clean, & professional environment for student-athletes, staff, & spectators. More details HERE.

Part-Time Assistant Swim Coach (Pennwest - California / California, PA): The assistant coach, in collaboration with the Head Swim Coach assists in the direction and administration of the program in a manner that reflects the athletics’ department program goals. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Trainer (University of Texas at Dallas / Richardson, TX): UT Dallas seeks two experienced and energetic athletic trainers who provide education, assessment, treatment and prevention services for athletic-related injuries and illnesses to student-athletes. More details HERE.

Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications (Southeastern Conference / Birmingham, AL): The Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications will provide strategic leadership for the Southeastern Conference’s communication efforts. (DI) More details HERE.

Head Athletic Trainer (Jessup University / Rocklin, CA): Will serve student-athletes, and athletic depart.; oversee the day to day operations of athletic training facility and the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries! More details HERE.

Director of Athletic Communications (Jessup University / Rocklin, CA): The purpose of the Director of Athletic Communications is to oversee and lead the communications and marketing efforts of the athletic department, through both print and digital means. More details HERE.

Assoc. Athletic Trainer (Jessup University / Rocklin, CA): The Associate Athletic Trainer and performs essential athletic training duties and functions to ensure the health and safety of Jessup student-athletes. More details HERE.

Head Men's Volleyball Coach (Jessup University / Rocklin, CA): The Head Coach is responsible for instructing, initiating, developing, and leading a consistently competitive athletic program, including recruiting, scheduling, training, and coaching team members. More details HERE.

Women's Lacrosse Assistant Coach (Northern Michigan University / Marquette, MI): Assist the Head Women's Lacrosse Coach with all assigned duties associated with the intercollegiate women's lacrosse program. More details HERE.

Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Full-tIme Assistant Coach for Women's Lacrosse. More details HERE.

Vice President and Director of Athletics (Tennessee Wesleyan University / Athens, TN): TWU seeks a dynamic and highly relational leader who understands the important role athletics plays in advancing the University's mission, strengthening enrollment, enhancing the student experience. (NAIA) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Athens? Click HERE.

Head Athletic Trainer (Colorado State University – Pueblo / Pueblo, CO): Provide overall leadership for sports medicine by developing the athletic training vision and strategic direction for CSU Pueblo Sports Medicine. More details HERE.