Edition #1456
October 5, 2026
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Starting in 2027-28, six sports will have changes to their NPI dials. Men’s soccer will tweak four dials: win %/SOS to 20/80, mirroring women’s soccer, and a decrease in quality win bonus, QWB multiplier and multiplier for ties. Other impacted sports include women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse and softball. (link)
Speaking of NPI, check out the new NPI rankings for field hockey (link), men’s (link) and women’s (link) soccer and women’s volleyball (link).
The most daunting challenge the Protect College Sports Act faces in passing the House might be the short window left to reach a finish line, per ESPN’s Dan Murphy, who notes the legislative body is scheduled for just 20 more working days spread across five weeks between now and the end of the year. “While that could be extended if lawmakers are debating high-priority issues such as a government funding deal, it's unlikely they would add time solely for the PCSA.” If the House can’t reach a vote before the end of 2026, the process would begin anew in January, and if Republicans lose control of the House in the midterms, “the likelihood of the current bill being revived is low.” More…
➤ Portions of the bill prescribing how often schools should schedule games with their rivals, how long the season should last and other items in a "grab bag of random things" in the legislation stretch beyond the role the federal government should play in a private industry, according to a House aide. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) recently shared a similar sentiment in a statement to the Washington Sun: “It's really important that we allow the schools to govern themselves."
➤ A spokesperson for the Congressional Black Caucus, which remains staunchly opposed to the PCSA as written, says authors haven't been willing to engage in serious conversations with members or with other groups that represent the interests of Black student-athletes while crafting the legislation. “The CBC carries more sway in the House than the Senate -- 58 of its 62 members are in the House. The group played a major role in defeating a different college sports bill called the SCORE Act in the House last year. A spokesperson for the group said the CBC would also like to see university leaders, especially from Southern states, take a stronger stance against racial gerrymandering before throwing its support behind any bill that helps the college sports industry.” (link)
The DIII Publication of Proposed Legislation for this January’s NCAA Convention is live with five proposals: permitting student-athletes to enter agreements with agents prior to enrollment, shifting to the age-based eligibility model, amending the spring football practice schedule, establishing a national collegiate champinship for women’s flag football and shortening the length of unexpired vacancies on Presidents or Management Council from two to one year. As a reminder, the deadline for amendments and resolutions is November 1. Notable details…
➤ On the age-based eligibility model, if approved, it would apply to all student-athletes with remaining seasons of competition and terms of enrollment after 2026-27 and those “who would have exhausted seasons but have term(s) of full-time enrollment remaining following the 2026-27 academic year.”
➤ For spring football, the new rules would limit four of the 16 days to walk-throughs without helmets or shoulder pads. For the remaining days, including the three-day transition period, programs are limited to four full-pad practices (all after the transition period), four helmet and shoulder pads practices and four with just helmets. The transition period, which applies to a student-athlete's first three practices, will be just helmets for the first two days and shells for the third day. The rule also limits the four full pads practices to a maximum of 75 minutes for full-contact drills. Similarly, an intrasquad scrimmage may count as one of the four full padded practices, but “scrimmages shall not exceed 75 minutes of full contact.”
➤ The NCAA estimates the annual cost of the women’s flag football championship to range from $2.3M to $3.2M depending on championship format. Full POPL. (link)
Effective this year, the NCAA, TNT Sports and Veritone have expanded highlight rights around NCAA championships. Members will now be able to post 12 live video posts (max 30 seconds) and 8 live GIFs per game, previously 4 and 0, and up to 6 minutes of post-event content per contest, previously 2. All members will be provided one seat with access to Grabyo to clip content. (link)
Fundraising & Facilities…
➤ Skidmore’s All In Too Win campaign surpassed its $300K goal, raising over $452K from 947 donors. (link)
➤ As part of Illinois Wesleyan’s $200M capital campaign, notable athletic fundraising goals include $10.5M to renovate the Shirk Center and $4M for athletic endowments. (link)
➤ Washington & Jefferson has begun renovations at Brooks Park, with new infield and foul territory turf and more to be ready for this upcoming season. (link)
It’s Peronnel…
➤ Johns Hopkins hires Georgia State (DI) Assoc. Director of Recreation Facilities Michael Hyde as Senior Assoc. AD for Capital Projects and Facilities. (link)
➤ The NCAA taps longtime collegiate softball umpire Marty Abezetian as the NCAA Softball Umpire Program’s Director of Training and Video Review. He previously served six years with the program as the softball video services coordinator before spending two years as the first director of training and video review. (link)
➤ TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser is departing the soon-to-be merged Skydance company. Per CNBC’s Alex Sherman, CBS Sports President/CEO David Berson will lead a newly formed global sports group, consisting of the CBS Sports, TNT Sports and WBD Sports brands, that will oversee all networks, platforms and territories. Skydance will own a large swath of sports rights, including NFL Sunday afternoon games, all of March Madness, college football and more. (link)
Coaches Corner…
➤ Huntingdon hires high school HC/Zimbabwe Lacrosse Board member Callie Porcher as its Women’s Lacrosse HC. (link)
➤ Misericordia names SUNY Geneseo AC/former Cougars’ HC Matt VanDerMeid as Men’s and Women’s Swimming Interim HC. (link)
➤ Salem State promotes Women’s Ice Hockey AC Anthony Martucci to HC. (link)
➤ Widener welcomes King’s Women’s Lacrosse HC Katy Higinbothom for the same position. (link)
➤ WPI taps Swimming & Diving AC Mark Wild as Interim HC for this season. (link)
➤ York (NY) names Women’s Soccer AC David Santos as Acting HC. (link)
Colleges and universities remain deeply divided over the deployment of AI-detection software to combat automated academic dishonesty four years after the launch of ChatGPT, according to The Atlantic's Will Oremus, who notes Turnitin has sold its AI detection add-on to roughly 1,400 North American institutions—flagging AI writing in nearly half of all U.S. university submissions last academic year—while maintaining a claimed false-positive rate under 1% and a false-negative rate around 15%. Competitor Pangram reports an internal false-positive rate of 1 in 25,000, yet major institutions like Vanderbilt, Indiana and Harvard have discouraged or banned automated detection due to concerns over false accusations, bias, and evasion tactics like "humanizer" tools. MIT teacher-education program director Eric Klopfer offers his solution: "We’re trying to think about how we approach the design of our education system in a way that should hopefully mitigate even the need for AI detectors. If it feels like what I’m doing is checking a box that says I’m going to get credit, then it’s understandable why students would want to take a shortcut." (link)
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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)
Assistant Director Athletic Communication (Saint Francis University / Loretto, PA): Saint Francis University, a Division III member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, invites applications for a full time Assistant Director, Athletic Communications. More details 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.
Coordinator, Athletic Communications (Stevenson University / Owings Mills, MD): Assist the Dir., Athletics Communications with the internal and external media distribution for Stevenson’s Athletics Department, with a primary focus on the department’s video/webcasting efforts. 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 Men's Basketball Coach (Augustana College – Illinois / Rock Island, IL): Augustana College is seeking a dynamic, energetic and knowledgeable Assistant Men's Basketball Coach to join the staff of one the most historically strong programs in the NCAA D3 ranks. More details 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. More details HERE.
Director of Athletics (Shenandoah University / Winchester, VA): Lead 75+ coaches and staff to drive competitive and academic success across 23 DIII sports. Expand the Hornets' community impact and athletic fundraising in the Shenandoah Valley. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Winchester? Click 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.
Head Softball Coach (Hanover College / Hanover, IN): Seeking dynamic, resourceful coach to lead a competitive Softball program, including all aspects of planning-managing-maintaining program w/primary emphasis on recruiting quality student-athletes. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Hanover? Click HERE.
Athletic Trainer (Williams College / Williamstown, MA): Williams College is seeking a skilled and enthusiastic Athletic Trainer to join us in supporting our student athletes. More details HERE.
Head Coach, Strength & Conditioning (Stevenson University / Owings Mills, MD): The Head Coach, Strength & Conditioning provides expertise, guidance, and training in the area of strength training and physical conditioning for all intercollegiate athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Coach - Women's Basketball (Allegheny College / Meadville, PA): Please see full description below. More details HERE.
Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach (Suffolk University / Boston, MA): This position is full-time and time-limited, beginning at the time of hire and continuing through 6/30/27. The individual selected for this interim role is encouraged to apply for the permanent role. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Boston? Click HERE.
Head Flag Football Coach (Ursinus College / Collegeville, PA): Summary and Scope of Position: The Head Women’s Flag Football Coach is responsible for the administration and organization of a successful women’s flag football program. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Collegeville? Click HERE.
Head Softball Coach (Ursinus College / Collegeville, PA): The Head Coach is responsible for the administration and organization of a successful athletic program that competes in the Centennial Conference at the NCAA Division III level. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Collegeville? Click 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. (DII) More details HERE.
Athletics Event Management Administrator (Brandeis University / Waltham, MA): Brandeis is hiring an Athletic Event Management Administrator to support the logistical execution and facility readiness for varsity contests at the NCAA Division III level and aquatics operations. 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 Men's Lacrosse Coach (Thiel College / Greenville, PA): Thiel College seeks an innovative and energetic Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach to lead and advance its NCAA Division III Men’s lacrosse program. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Greenville? Click HERE.
Assistant Coach, Women's Hockey (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – RPI / Troy, NY): Assist the Head Coach in managing a Division I women’s hockey program, including recruiting, player development, academic and personal support and on/off-ice instruction. More details HERE.
Administrative Coordinator (Chapman University / Orange, CA): The Administrative Coordinator supports the Athletics Department's daily operations, front office, finances, HR, and fundraising events. Requires collaborating across campus and working flexible hours More details HERE.
Events and Travel Manager - Athletic Administration (Washington University in St. Louis / St. Louis, MO): Manager of Events and Travel - Athletics. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (Franklin & Marshall College / Lancaster, PA): Assist the Director of Athletics Communication in all areas of media relations, promotion and creative content for the department, executing gameday production and supervising gameday personnel. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (Loras College / Dubuque, IA): Will assist in the communications and media relations for all 24 varsity athletic programs, including the 23 NCAA Division III athletic teams. More details HERE.
Head Softball Coach (Alfred State College / Alfred, NY): The Head Coach is the person responsible for all aspects of leading a NCAA program in the sport of Softball. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Alfred? Click HERE.
Head Coach MW Swimming/Aquatics Director (Misericordia University / Dallas, PA): Leadership, administration, and overall operation of the swimming program. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Dallas? Click HERE.
Internship and Assistant Track & Field / Cross Country Coach: (Thiel College / Greenville, PA): Thiel College seeks an Intern to serve as Assistant Track & Field / Cross Country Coach More details HERE.
Head Coach - William Smith Tennis (Hobart & William Smith College / Geneva, NY): The William Smith Tennis Head Coach is responsible for the organization and management of a highly competitive NCAA Division III tennis program More details HERE.
Head Coach - Track and Field (Eastern Mennonite University / Harrisonburg, VA): Elevate EMU Track & Field! We're hiring a Sprints & Jumps Head Coach to recruit top talent and inspire academic and athletic excellence. Shape our future champions! More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Harrisonburg? Click HERE.