Edition #901
September 22, 2026
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Semafor’s Burgess Everett with the latest from the Senate as the Protect College Sports Act pushes on: “The price for Senate Republicans to finish the college sports bill quickly this week might be a roll call vote on allowing NCAA athletes to organize. It could take all week for the Senate to process the bipartisan college sports bill. To speed things up, Democrats want amendment votes, most notably one that would allow college athletes to collectively bargain. The amendment, from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), would replace a portion of the bill that is neutral on employment status with Murphy’s College Athlete Right to Organize Act. … Murphy also has amendments that would subject coaches to the same transfer portal restrictions as athletes and protect athletes who report physical or sexual misconduct.” (link)
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger refers to Sen. Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) amendment to replace a portion of the PCSA with his College Athlete Right to Organize Act as “an interesting proposal,” but notes “there are few if any bill changes expected. The last motion got 77 votes - 17 more than needed for passage, which is expected by Friday. There is little reason to compromise as expediting a vote isn't necessary. Context here matters. Because of the high procedural support - 77+ right now - detractors hold little leverage to push lawmakers to adopt or even vote on amendments. Time is the only real leverage point: Detractors can slow down the process to possibly push a final vote into early next week.” Dellenger on where things stand with the PCSA: “So this bill will pass the Senate next week, but then it goes to the House. They like to call it, on the hill, a circus, and it's just kind of an unruly chamber of various cliques. And it's sort of hard to predict how people are going to vote, no matter their party in the House, especially with a bill that is so specific.” (link, link)
Heart of America Commissioner Nik Rule joined the College Recruiting Weekly Podcast’s Dan Tudor to discuss the financial challenges in and around college athletics, efforts in DC and more. Here are some of his most notable comments…
➤ On the efforts in Congress: “The lobbying efforts of some of the small college central offices and administrators are starting to work to get Congress to understand that if you make a decision for the top 50 Division I programs, that decision could be catastrophic to the industry of intercollegiate athletics for every single other level. … A decision from Congress that's not well thought through, that the effect from that from all these other entities, a vast majority of the entities could be absolutely catastrophic. And it comes down to paying players, are student-athletes employees, all those different things. So small colleges need a seat at the table and the Division I solution needs to be a separate solution than that small college solution.”
➤ How the role of an administrator is shifting: “If you're an administrator today and you know that you need more enrollment and one of the conversation topic points within your own internal thesis or within your strategic plan that you're developing out does not include adding sports, I caution those folks that I don't know that they'll be around very long. … I think if you don't have roster growth expansion, as part of your conversation, I think that there's a higher chance that institutions are going to go out and find someone who has that experience. Let's be honest, for years, the athletic director – their core fiduciary responsibility was fundraising. That really is shifting in many places to where your core fiduciary responsibility is tuition revenue, and you have to be very well seasoned on that and you have to be comfortable with that or it may not be the industry for you anymore.”
➤ As for how the future looks, Rule believes the financial challenges of DI will push smaller DIs to reclassify to DII or DIII, which in turn would push the smaller DII and DIII institutions to reconsider their affiliation to find a sustainable model where they can compete. “We’re excited, barring anything that happens from Congress, we’re excited about what could happen there. The NAIA believes that they could be the landing place of responsible athletics that is the tuition-driven enrollment model. … We need to let that free market work in the small college space and the small Division I space. We need that free market to be allowed to happen because it is already happening.” (link)
The GSAC becomes the first NAIA league to sign a streaming deal with Overnght. Starting October 1, all regular-season home GSAC contests will be behind the Overnght paywall, which costs $11.99 a month or $104.99 for the year. With this multi-year partnership, GSAC members “are committed to raising the standard of on-campus productions throughout the conference. Enhanced broadcasts, improved production quality and expanded storytelling opportunities will provide fans with a more engaging viewing experience while showcasing the accomplishments of GSAC student-athletes and programs.” In addition to one home for GSAC contests, the agreement “may include original programming, feature storytelling, highlights, behind-the-scenes access and other exclusive content designed to further elevate the conference's student-athletes, coaches and member institutions while bringing fans closer to the stories that define GSAC athletics.” (link)
Union Commonwealth will move to free admission for all home regular-season contests this year. AD Clay Butler: "We have seen tremendous growth in the relationship between our athletic programs and the community, and that played a major role in this decision. Our local businesses, churches, alumni, and community members continue to find ways to support our student-athletes, whether that is through sponsorships, donated services, meals, volunteering, or simply being there for our students. Making admission free is one way we can give something back and make it easier for everyone to be part of Union Athletics. … We want our athletic events to be a place where our entire community feels welcome. We want families to be able to bring their children to a game, we want former students and alumni to come back to campus, and we want members of our community to feel like Union is their team. We hope removing the cost of admission will help us fill our stands and gyms with people wearing orange and black and cheering on the Bulldogs.” (link)
Facility Features…
➤ Aquinas has officially upgraded its track surface with a new Mondo Super-X surface. (link)
➤ Check out SCAD Savannah’s new women’s soccer locker room facility. (link)
➤ WVU Tech unveils its new weight room and golf training space. (link)
Our sincerest condolences go out to the entire St. Thomas community, as well as to the family and friends of Baseball AC Alfredo “Tito” Carrillo following his passing. (link)
We offer our well wishes to Mayville State football student-athlete Matt Donovan as he recovers from brain surgery following a head injury sustained during Saturday’s game against Simpson. The GoFundMe to support Donovan’s recovery has raised over $82K as of this afternoon. (link, link)
People & Places…
➤ IU Kokomo Chancellor Mark Canada will retire at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. (link)
➤ Keiser hires recent St. Thomas (FL) President David Armstrong as the president of its flagship campus. (link)
➤ Marian (IN) President Daniel Elsener will transition to a new role as President Emeritus at the end of this academic year, with COO/Chancellor Kenith Britt to step in as the university’s next president. (link)
➤ Bismarck State names Asst. AD/Facility Manager Thai Haggin as SWL. (link)
➤ Missouri Valley welcomes former Collegiate Clay Targets Association Executive Director Taylor Bryant as Director of Shooting Sports/SWL. (link)
The share of the high school graduating class of 2025 immediately enrolling in college increased slightly across all economic backgrounds, according to data released Thursday by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Per Higher Ed Dive’s Laura Spitalniak, post-graduation fall enrollment at low-poverty high schools rose to 73.9%, up from 73.1% in 2024, while immediate enrollment for high-poverty high school graduates reached 51.2% (up from 50.8%). College persistence rates among high-poverty high school graduates also improved for the class of 2023, climbing to 76% (up from 74.3%), and to 90.6% (up from 89.4%) among low-poverty graduates. Additionally, the share of high-poverty high school graduates enrolling in college within two years grew by 2.1 percentage points to 58.7% for the class of 2023, with urban high schools showing the largest two-year enrollment gain at 67.1%. (link)
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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)
(NEW!) 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.
Part-Time Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach (University of Pikeville / Pikeville, KY): The University of Pikeville is seeking an innovative professional for the position of Part-time Assistant Track & Field/ Cross Country Coach within the Athletic Department. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Lindsey Wilson University / Columbia, KY): Lindsey Wilson University is searching for an Assistant Athletic Trainer. 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 Archery & Shotgun Sports Coach (Missouri Valley College / Marshall, MO): Missouri Valley University seeks an energetic, visionary, and student-centered Head Coach to provide leadership for the Universities Men's and Women's Archery/Shotgun team. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Marshall? Click 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. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Athens? Click HERE.
Jamie and Ellen Pollard Endowed Director of Athletics (Iowa State University / Ames, IA): Iowa State seeks a visionary, strategic leader to serve as its next Director of Athletics and build upon a proud tradition of innovation and competitive excellence. (DI) More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Ames? Click HERE. The D1.dossier for this position is available HERE.
Head Track & Field Coach (Missouri Valley College / Marshall, MO): Missouri Valley College seeks an energetic, visionary, and student-centered Head Track & Field Coach to provide leadership for the College's men's and women's track & field programs More details HERE.
Assistant Softball Coach (Northwestern College / Orange City, IA): Seeking assistant softball coach applicants to assist in leading a nationally contending program that won 3 consecutive GPAC titles from 2023-2025 and hosted back-to-back NAIA regionals in 2024-2025. More details HERE.
Assistant Women's Flag Football Coach (Hesston College / Hesston, KS): Assist the Head Coach in supporting the women’s flag football program through student-athlete development, recruitment and retention, team and equipment management, and practice and game preparation. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Stewardship and Administration (University of Pennsylvania – Penn / Philadelphia, PA): Shape the donor experience for Penn Athletics, strengthening relationships with alumni and supporters while driving stewardship, engagement, and growth across 33 varsity programs. (DI) More details HERE.
Assistant Director, Creative Services (Big Ten Conference / Rosemont, IL): This position will support the creation and execution of compelling visual content that enhances the Conference's brand, events, championships, and marketing initiatives. (DI) More details HERE.