Edition #14
October 16, 2026
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The NJCAA releases its Student Success Data Project with the help of the Lumina Foundation whose $150K grant funded the research to track two-year student-athlete outcomes. The three components of the study include a longitudinal postsecondary outcomes analysis of over 15K student-athletes, a student-athlete survey of 246 student-athletes across 23 members and a survey of 242 NJCAA ADs. Key findings…
➤ From the 2021-22 cohort, as of December 2025, 64.7% had earned a degree, with 19.2% still enrolled. 10% of student-athletes graduated within two years, 44.2% within three years and 59.2% through December. 51.9% of those that earned a two-year credential did so at their original institution, while 19.5% did so at another institution. Nearly 70% of all 2021-22 student-athletes transferred to a four-year school, with 30.2% having graduated and 61.5% still enrolled as of December.
➤ From the survey of 246 student-athletes, 54.9% of whom were baseball student-athletes, 53.6% reported spending 11-30 hours on sport participation per week, with 23.2% spending over 30 hours. 61.4% spent between 1 and 5 hours preparing for class each week and 67.5% took two or more online or virtual courses. The majority (51.4%) of respondents were commuters and 31.7% worked a job while competing. The most common student-athlete stressors were grades (58.1%), position competition (56.5%), time management (50.8%) and paying for college (48.4%). As for how athletes paid for college, 60.2% receive scholarships, 55.3% use family income and 36.2% receive academic scholarships.
➤ Comparing the AD survey with that of student-athletes, ADs overestimated student-athletes’ use of tutoring (72% vs 38%, respectively), academic advising (93% vs 72%), campus food banks (48% vs 14%) and student-success coaches (48% vs 22%).
➤ Recommendations include standardizing pre-transfer guidance and developing NJCAA-specific best practices, treating financial aid access as an academic retention issue, developing mental health awareness training, educating staff on food and housing insecurity and further investigations and studies into specific areas. Full report. (link)
NJCAA President/CEO Christopher Parker: “In essence, the ‘proof is in the sports!’ This pioneering national study has demonstrated that students who participate in NJCAA athletics surpass the academic performance of traditional two-year college students. This is something we have been saying for years on an individual campus basis, but now putting it together nationally just reiterates what we already knew! Those factors of engagement, support, accountability, and pride all do matter and NJCAA student-athletes will continue to lead the way in the classroom and the field.” (link)
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Cloud County unveils its new 2,300-square-foot Hamel Family Baseball Clubhouse and new batting cage area. A $250K lead gift from Cloud County baseball alum Zach Hamel led the fundraising efforts. (link)
Mohave renamed its men’s and women’s soccer facility Firebird Field, constructed in 2024, to Bighorns Field in dedication ceremonies, which also featured new lighted signage. The new branding reflects the college’s identity and the renaming was made possible in partnership with the City of Bullhead City, Bullhead City Rotary, and Mohave College Booster Club. (link, link, link)
Check out Pellissippi State’s upgraded 3,600 square-foot climate-controlled hitting facility. (link)
North Platte will add men’s and women’s wrestling starting next fall. Of note: “The expansion of athletics comes as the college continues to seek opportunities to retain local students in the service area. Construction is underway on two new housing units on NPCC's North Campus. The additional housing will increase the college's current on-campus capacity by 24 beds, providing more opportunities for students to live on campus while participating in academic, athletic and student life activities.” (link)
Northern Essex will add women’s flag football as a varsity sport, beginning in 2027-28. AD Dan Blair: “Right now, the sport has its greatest number of participants in Massachusetts within the Merrimack Valley, and this will help us tremendously in building our program.” (link)
Coaches Corner…
➤ Meridian Men’s and Women’s Tennis HC Tais Rieger has left the program to become a Men’s Tennis AC at UAB (NCAA DI). (link)
➤ North Country AD Chad LaDue is return to the sidelines as the Saints’ Women’s Basketball HC. (link)
➤ Polk State taps Softball AC Brittany Anderson as Interim HC. (link)
The Minnesota State Board of Trustees has approved the reallocation of up to $25M per year over the next four years to support struggling institutions, with St. Cloud State (NCAA DII) and Bemidji State (NCAA DII) to receive $10M and $4.8M, respectively in FY28. This change will involve shifting funds from two-year colleges to support these institutions, with individual school contributions ranging from $121K to $1.8M. Dakota County Technical and Inver Hills will contribute a combined $747K. President Michael Berndt calls the revised plan “stronger and more thoughtful” while warning, “It’s frankly demoralizing to our employees to see the outcome of our work significantly reduced by seeing our allocation dollars reduced. … More transparency about what has been done, and what is being planned, will enable me to be a better advocate.” (link, link)
Related, Minnesota State plans to close its Detroit Lakes campus by summer 2028, citing declining enrollment and an aging, underutilized facility. The closure is expected to save approximately $1M annually and avoid more than $18M in future capital repairs. Minnesota State emphasized that it remains financially strong, with its three other campuses (Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena) and online programs continuing operations. (link)
Interested in advertising a job opening in NJCAA.ticker? Click here to submit your position. Post your department-wide openings with CollegeSports.jobs, where thousands of administrators coaches get news and updates about the world of college sports.
(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days)
(NEW!) 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.
(NEW!) Assistant Athletic Trainer (Frostburg State University / Frostburg, MD): Full Time Assistant Athletic Trainer. More details HERE.
Lead Dining Service Cook (University of Puget Sound / Tacoma, WA): The Lead Dining Services Cook position serves as a culinary professional specializing in batch cooking. This role involves preparing large volumes of entrees, sides, and sauces, for the Diner. More details HERE.
Dining Service Supervisor (University of Puget Sound / Tacoma, WA): The Dining and Event Services (DES) Supervisor is responsible for the safe, efficient, and guest-focused day-to-day operations of The Diner. More details HERE.
Controller (University of Puget Sound / Tacoma, WA): The Controller is responsible for guiding, coordinating and monitoring the accounting, tax, treasury management and financial reporting for the university. 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.
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. (DII) More details HERE.
Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach (Chatham University / Pittsburgh, PA): The Head Coach is responsible for overseeing assistant coaches, student support staff, and student-athletes. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Pittsburgh? Click HERE.
RIT University Advancement Associate Director (Rochester Institute of Technology / Rochester, NY): The Associate Director builds & advances the prospect pipeline in support of university priorities, with a dedicated focus on Athletics, Parents and Sentinel Society. More details HERE.
Assistant Director, Athletic Facilities, Equipment & Operations (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – RPI / Troy, NY): Oversees athletic facility operations, staffing, scheduling and maintenance; coordinates ROTC and events; and manages athletic equipment inventory, budgeting, ordering, issuance, laundry, and repairs. More details HERE.
Women's Lacrosse Head Coach (Whittier College / Whittier, CA): The Athletics Department at Whittier College is seeking a women's lacrosse head coach. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Whittier? Click 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.
Associate Athletic Trainer (Spalding University / Louisville, KY): Associate Athletic Trainer - maintain and coordinate a comprehensive sports medicine program, under the leadership of the Head Athletic Trainer. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Spalding University / Louisville, KY): The full-time Assistant Athletic Trainer will maintain and coordinate a comprehensive sports medicine program for Spalding University athletics under the leadership of the Head Athletic Trainer. 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.
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.
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.
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 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. (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.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Lindsey Wilson University / Columbia, KY): Lindsey Wilson University is searching for an Assistant Athletic Trainer. 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.
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.