Edition #914
November 6, 2026
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The NAIA has approved the five seasons of eligibility proposal starting in 2027-28. Indiana Tech President/NAIA Council of Presidents Chair Karl Einolf: “The most important part of the term ‘student-athlete’ is student. The NAIA is committed to creating opportunities for students to pursue their educational and athletic goals, recognizing that every student’s journey is unique. By expanding opportunities for participation, we reaffirm our belief that college athletics should support each student’s educational journey, on their own terms.” (link, link - full legislation)
NAIA President/CEO Jim Carr sat down with Victory Sports Network and the Road to Muni Podcast to discuss the fifth year of eligibility and more. Carr notes the association will leave the 20% rule around financial aid limits in place for three years to evaluate the impact of five seasons. How will he evaluate the success of the change? “That more students are graduating and more students are getting graduate degrees because of this rule change. Then I think from the institutional side of it is that we look back over the three years and we feel like we're in a good place for them to still figure out how athletics can have the biggest positive impact on campus from an enrollment standpoint, from a financial standpoint, and that their student athletes are all having a tremendous experience.” More notable comments…
➤ On high school recruiting opportunities created by changes in the NCAA: “I do think we have the real opportunity to become known as the place for high school students to go on and play. ... It's getting harder and harder, especially at the Division I level for those students to find opportunities. We have to face the fact that maybe some of those students are going to come to us for just a couple of years and then, through NIL reasons or whatever else, jump to a different place, but that's okay too. I think we just have to realize that's the world we live in and if we can give them a great home for a couple of years and they get the benefits that small colleges provide and they grow up as people and build their character, all those things that we do over a four- or five-year period, to me, that's still a positive thing.”
➤ What’s the sweet spot for membership? “We're around 240 right now. I think the 250 to 275 range is a really good number for us. I guess we're starting to think internally more about it from a regional concept. How do we make sure that we're strong in the parts of the country where we're currently strong, maintain that, but then also potentially grow out from there a little bit because, as you know well, Jason, 80-90% of the action happens at the conference level or in the region? For most of our schools and for those schools we're trying to attract, one of the primary considerations, if not the consideration is what conference am I going to be in and is my comfort strong? … So it's a little bit about the overall number, but it's really about making sure that we have 20 really strong conferences or more.”
➤ Asked about the prospect for football expansion beyond 20: “People may not like this answer, but I think it demands a little more research and data and those kinds of things to really understand. Adding four teams might not seem like a lot, but if it means two more flights, charter flights, that's a big deal to those two teams that are having to charter those flights. Now, we do have a much better model in place for reimbursement for the cost of travel, and that seems to be working well too. So I think we're in a better place to expand a little more quickly than we would've been five, 10 years ago because of that, but at least at this point, I haven't heard anything.” (link, link)
Point AD Jaunelle White will depart to become the Senior Assoc. AD for Compliance at Alabama State (NCAA DI). (link)
The Protect College Sports Act won’t be on the House’s agenda when it returns to session next week, per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, who notes the move was expected. (link)
Writing for On3, Dellenger dives into how the Democrats flipping both Congressional chambers impacts the potential passage of the Protect College Sports Act, with New York Yankees President/College Sports Council Vice Chair Randy Levine stating: “The answer is nobody really knows. This was always a bipartisan bill.” More…
➤ With Republicans clinging to a four-seat House majority for the next two months and more than 25 ousted GOP incumbents set to be relocated to makeshift basement cubicles, Capitol Hill aides warn absent lawmakers could sink floor votes across the remaining 20 scheduled working days. Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell: “The challenge is that a lot of these guys who got booted may not show up to work.” An anonymous House staffer adds: “There’s just no incentive to pass the bill unless Trump can get (House Speaker) Mike Johnson to put it on the floor and have the entire Republican caucus show up as they are getting evicted.”
➤ An anonymous senior Democratic House aide adds: "If you want a quote, here it is: the NIL bill is dead on f****** arrival. They’ve only got to get four Republicans. It’s just a different environment. The Republicans need us now and they want the bill more than we do." Another source suggested to Dellenger that Democrats might want college sports legislation off their proverbial plates before a new Congress arrives, which could pave the way for an attempt to overturn President Trump’s policies around healthcare and tariffs. Campbell adds: “(The election results) make it clear that something has to be done in this lame duck session, so people will finally feel the urgency to stop screwing around and playing games.” (link)
Tuesday's midterm elections have reduced the odds the Protect College Sports Act passes during the lame-duck Congressional session to between 5% and 10%, according to Colorado State (DI) FAR/Sacred Cow BBQ publisher Kyle Saunders. Outgoing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces internal math challenges given a 218-member majority, compounded by at least 21 House Republicans who formally requested alterations to the bill's 20-member conference cap and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's (R-LA) push to add an explicit ban on classifying student-athletes as employees. Amending the text would force a return to the Senate, where staff warned the legislation was “a final product” and threatened counter-amendments capping coach, AD and president salaries if conference realignment restrictions were altered. (link)
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has told staff he won’t run for House GOP leader, per Saunders, who notes “The Speaker who’d have to whip the college sports bill in the lame duck has no leadership future to whip for. And its House sponsor, Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), is in a race too close to call.” (link)
Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman observes it’s “going to be REALLY hard for House Republican leadership to get people back to Washington for the lame duck.” (link)
The NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship will remain at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, KS, through 2028. (link)
McPherson will add women’s wrestling as its 22nd varsity sport. (link)
Midland will discontinue recruiting for men’s tennis with current student-athletes to continue to compete and the Warriors committed to supporting women’s tennis moving forward. President Aly Williams: “Over the past several years, collegiate tennis has experienced a national decline in sports sponsorship and athletic participation, resulting in fewer regional competitors and reduced opportunities for postseason tournaments. At the same time, there are local facility constraints that limit court time and practice schedules, making the long-term sustainability of maintaining both programs challenging.” (link)
Bismarck State signs a multi-year partnership with Learfield College Rodeo to support revenue generation opportunities. (link)
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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)
(NEW!) Head Women's Wrestling Coach (McPherson College / McPherson, KS): Help establish a new women’s wrestling tradition in a community that values relationships, academic excellence, innovation, service, and the growth of every student-athlete. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to McPherson? Click HERE.
(NEW!) Head Competitive Dance Coach (Morningside University / Sioux City, IA): Morningside University Head Competitive Dance Coach More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Sioux City? Click HERE.
(NEW!) Athletic Trainer (Southwestern College / Winfield, KS): Southwestern College is currently seeking applicants for a full-time athletic trainer. The position will cover both soccer teams / JV basketball / & baseball with very limited travel. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Director of Athletic Training (University of Pikeville / Pikeville, KY): The University of Pikeville is seeking an energetic individual for the Director of Athletic Training. This position performs the sports medicine duties for the university's 26 athletic programs. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Assistant Athletic Trainer (University of Pikeville / Pikeville, KY): University of Pikeville (UPIKE), the Leading University in Central Appalachia is actively seeking candidates for an Assistant Athletic Trainer in the Athletics Department. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Head Women's Volleyball Coach (Waynesburg University / Waynesburg, PA): The head coach is responsible for, but not limited to, recruiting quality student athletes, retaining a full roster, practice organization, staff hiring/development, game scheduling, budget oversight. (DIII) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Waynesburg? Click HERE.
Head Men's Soccer Coach (Waldorf University / Forest City, IA): Waldorf University (NAIA, GPAC) in Forest City, IA seeks a Head Men's Soccer Coach to lead all phases of the program, recruit student-athletes and mentor players. Full-time. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Forest City? Click HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Waldorf University / Forest City, IA): Waldorf University seeks a full-time Assistant Athletic Trainer to provide athletic training services for 20+ NAIA varsity teams in Forest City, IA. Preferred start early January 2027. More details HERE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Men's Assistant Volleyball Coach (Georgetown College / Georgetown, KY): Part-time assistant coach role assisting with recruiting, training, scouting, instructing and coaching. More details HERE.
Head Coach for Men's & Women's Tennis (Indiana Wesleyan University / Marion, IN): The Head Coach is responsible for the men's and women's tennis budget, strategic planning, courts and facilities, policies, compliance, scholarships, promotion and leadership of the team. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Marion? Click 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.
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.