Edition #3
September 8, 2026
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Northampton AD/NJCAA Board of Regents Chairman Troy Tucker sat down with College.town’s Kristen Eargle to dive into big-picture changes across the association and college athletics. Here are some of his most notable comments…
➤ On eligibility, Tucker says the NJCAA still needs to understand where the NCAA is on eligibility given the litany of lawsuits and the unknown of what DIII will do. Further: “There have been discussions at our level for a while. Is there a third year for us? Potentially. I don't want anybody to hear this and say, 'Oh, Troy said we're going three.' I'm just saying potentially a third year has been batted around at our level. So again, I think for some of our schools, there are some students that do take longer that might want to participate in that third year. … The third year might be more of a help to us, quite honestly, for a student to stay who needed to finish up credits in a degree program.”
➤ As for how the association can approach change: “The frustrating part is that we really lack the ability to be proactive. We have to sit back and wait and see what's going to happen before we implement a rule. ... So it's really going to be a challenge for us to find where's our niche and how do we fit into this, again, especially with some of the transfers who come back to us.”
➤ Asked about what has been most beneficial for his success as a five-time AD of the Year: “I think it's being at the right place, right? I mean, you need to be at places that want you and you fit. … So I've been lucky to find all the places I've been, it's been a good fit. It's been very supportive. They let me be me. … For us to join the NJCAA back in 2008 and have the success we've had and build this program from nothing to what it is, and then to be able to get involved nationally and build back up to the point now to be able to be the chairman of the NJCAA and sit in that seat for three more years, it's been very rewarding to see it. But with everything that's going on, I tell people I'm kind of glad I'm at the top of the roller coaster heading down. I'm not sure I'd want to be a 25-year-old just starting right now because there are a lot of challenges ahead.” More. (link)
Last month, the NJCAA Championships and Alignment Committee “generally supported” a 20%/5% national tournament philosophy but will continue to evaluate the differences between divisions, championships and more. KJCCC Commissioner/Committee Chair Mike Saddler noted the association needs a consistent framework for championship expansion rather than sport-by-sport decision-making. VP for Championships, Membership and Sports Governance Brett Monaghan added that the new championship model for DI and DII baseball should not be applied too broadly before actually being implemented in 2028, adding that soccer may be the next appropriate sport to consider. A small group will meet with the Cross Country Committee to update the proposal around championship qualification standards. Also, a new subcommittee will be formed, led by Dallas-Richland AD Lynn Nabi, to explore the expansion of the DIII baseball tournament field. (link)
Construction has begun on an $18M athletics renovation project at St. Louis on two of its campuses. The project will include a state-of-the-art athletic complex at its Meramec campus and updates to the Forest Park gymnasium, The STLCC-Meramec complex will include new athletic fields for softball, baseball and soccer, along with a concession stand, seating, dugouts, scoreboards and updated locker rooms and offices. Upgrades at STLCC-Forest Park include a new court for basketball and volleyball and a remodeled training room and concessions area. (link)
Coahoma officially reopened its newly renovated Marion M. Reid Gymnasium last week. The historic venue will serve as the home of the volleyball team, which is in the midst of its first season. (link)
Six Dallas College campuses - Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, Mountain View, Richland and North Lake - are preparing to launch women’s flag football teams this academic year. Dallas College AD Lynn Nabi: “Dallas College Athletics is proud to be part of growing women’s flag football as a collegiate sport. The sport has shown tremendous growth within the area and the country, and we look forward to seeing one of the Dallas College campuses holding a NJCAA national trophy soon, perhaps even one of the young ladies becoming an Olympic hopeful.” (link)
Later this month, the NJCAA will launch Women 360, a new show hosted by recently retired Western Wyoming AD Lu Sweet on the NJCAA Network and all NJCAA social channels dedicated to elevating the stories and voices of women throughout junior college athletics. President/CEO Christopher Parker: “Women have played an extraordinary role in building and advancing junior college athletics, and there are so many stories that deserve to be told. Women 360 gives us a platform to celebrate those stories while creating meaningful conversations about leadership, opportunity and the future of women’s athletics. Dr. Sweet’s experience and perspective make her an ideal person to lead those conversations.” (link)
People & Places…
➤ Blinn Asst. AD Brandon Colvin is no longer in the role. (link)
➤ SUNY Adirondack selects Callaway Golf Certified Performance Fitter Jason Hughes as its new Golf HC. (link)
The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information from Daktronics concerning Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, acting CFO Howard Atkins said during last Wednesday’s earnings call. According to the Dallas Sports Journal, “Atkins reported $155M in cash and $10M in debt at the end of the quarter,” and said during the call: “Let me now briefly address a matter that has been in the media concerning the NBA’s investigation of Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in connection with the league’s collective bargaining agreement that many of you may have heard about. As you might expect, we have received requests for information from the NBA. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information from us concerning the company and Mr. Leonard. We take these requests seriously and are cooperating. At this point, out of respect for the respective processes, we will not be providing further comment.” Meadowlark Media’s Pablo Torre this week cited, per the Dallas Sports Journal, a “high-level source under contract for Intuit Dome who said Clippers money went through Daktronics to Leonard. A former Clippers official told Torre that Leonard’s role as a Daktronics spokesperson had been talked about openly within the organization.” (link)