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Colorado Colorado Springs AD Kirkham announced his retirement, effective June 30. During his 12 years, every sport facility has been renovated or constructed, with planning underway for two new facilities. Beginning next year, four programs will have been added under his watch, while scholarship funding increased from $250k to $1m. Per Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak: "Steve Kirkham made Mountain Lion teams into contenders at every sport while never forgetting that UCCS student-athletes are, first and foremost, students. Director Kirkham demonstrated that you can be a winner in the classroom and on the court." - link
No lame duck, Kirkham named Northern Kentucky (DI) WBB Asst Coach Plett as Colorado Colorado Springs next HC. Plett, on his interest in the position: "The continued development of the campus over the years has been incredible and I sensed a genuine camaraderie among the coaches and athletic department administration." - link
Upper Iowa named Utah State (DI) WBB Asst Coach Thompson as its next HC. Thompson and UIU AD Miller were complementary of each other's vision for the program, while USU WBB HC Finkbeiner noted: "I have really exposed her to and worked her in all phases of the game and she has handled it all very well. I realized two years ago that Micha was ready to move over 18 inches and become a head coach; it was just a matter of time and fit until she moved on to run her own program." - link
Cameron promoted WBB Asst Coach Andrews to HC. Per Andrews: "I want to teach our players how to be successful athletes and students. I want them to get out in the community and meet people and I want them to be successful in their careers and it all starts with demanding excellence today." - link
Confirming a previous report, Limestone named Marshall (DI) FB Asst Coach Furrey as its next HC. Per LC Prez Griffin, the search process identified Furrey as someone "who would take us to greater heights in terms of on-field success and, perhaps more importantly, off-the-field accountability, responsibility and contributions to our campus and community.” - link (release), link (Griffin), link (press conf video)
The RMAC has accepted Maryville as an associate member for MLAX for the 2016-17 academic year. Release notes that “The RMAC is proud to play a key role in the regional development of Division II Lacrosse. ...More scheduling opportunities along with balanced travel shall enhance the student-athlete experience for all participating teams." Inaugural MU HC Newton says that the RMAC "will provide our student-athletes a tremendous opportunity to compete in one of the best up-and-coming conferences in Division II," while playing in CO and UT will expand the recruiting footprint for the program and the university. - link
Dixie State kicked off a month-long membership drive for the Trailblazer Club, its newly-formed booster organization. Per DSU Assoc AD for External Relations Dawes: "Joining the Trailblazer Club provides a great opportunity to catch every minute of our NCAA-championship caliber athletic programs and to contribute to student-athlete scholarships. Memberships are very affordable and it is a great way to enjoy family-friendly entertainment and top-level competition." - link
Indiana of PA has enlisted Sprinturf to replace the turf surface at George P Miller Stadium, home of IUP FB, field hockey, and WLAX. Work is expected to be complete for the start of the fall 2016 sports season. Release includes artist rendering. - link
Kentucky State FB HC Smith talks about getting ready for his first season, says that "trying to get the facility as workable as we could, to be as functional as it could be" was top priority, aims to be part of university "transformation" espoused by KSU Prez Burse, indicates "backyard" and neighboring state recruiting will be bolstered by transfers, and wants the local community "to understand this is Frankfort’s team,” but knows it will take putting a good product on the field. - link
In admin news:
+ New Haven named Northwestern Oklahoma State Assoc AD for Compliance/SWA as Assoc AD for NCAA Compliance and Student Welfare. - link
+ Not technically DII, but Minnesota Duluth Asst AD Strong was appointed to a four-year term on the NCAA DI Women's Ice Hockey Committee. - link
In broadcast news:
+ The MIAA will charge $9.99/day of the event for streaming coverage of its baseball tourney. - link
+ GLVC Sports Network and its Extra Credit initiative will air complete coverage of the GLVC baseball tourney from May 12-15. - link
+ Quincy is now offering a practicum course titled, "GLVC Sports Network Reporting/Broadcasting." - link
Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and campus community of Colorado Mesa FB S-A Worbington, who passed away on Wednesday drowing while swimming. - link
Embry Riddle AD Phillips and HCs talk about the ups and downs they experienced in the first year transitioning from NAIA to DII, which included wins over highly-ranked opponents as well as crusing defeats. Per Phillips: “Our first year was a great year. It was everything we had hoped it would be. We're looking forward to our growth in that league, growing more and more competitive and hopefully we'll be competing for conference titles in (2017-18)." - link
In NCAA DII championships updates:
+ Softball Super Regional action has wrapped up. - link
+ Updated MTEN bracket with Sweet 16 match-ups. - link
+ Baseball regional rankings were updated May 11 and the NCAA tourney selection show will air at 10pm eastern time on May 15. - link (regional rankings), link (selection show)
Mark your calendars; the countdown is officially on. The first FB game of the 2016 season, to be billed as the "D2 Kickoff," will be played between East Stroudsburg and Brevard at 5:45pm on September 1. - link
In Olympic sport coaching movement:
+ Pittsburg State named Assoc AD for Facilities Myers, a former PSU baseball S-A who previously served as Central Missouri baseball HC for seven years, as its next HC. - link
+ Saint Rose named Siena (DI) MSOC Asst Coach Ciano as its next HC. - link
+ Coker removed the interim tag from interim men's & women's golf HC Goins. - link
+ Tarleton State softball HC Mata resigned after 20 years at the helm. - link
+ Mississippi College WVB HC Cosmiano resigned after 12 years to become the director of parks and recreation for the city of Jasper, AL. - link
In ticket pricing news:
+ Newberry set single-game FB tix at $15-16, with a 6-game season pass $95-101. - link
+ Cal State San Marcos WVB season tix for the first season in CSUSM's new The Sports Center will run $150 for chair back seats in the first five rows off center court. - link
Conference all-sports trophy winners include:
+ Wingate won the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the 10th straight year. - link
+ Cal Baptist won the PacWest Commissioner's Cup for the third straight year and fourth time in five years. - link
+ Limestone won its second straight Conference Carolinas Joby Hawn Cup, while also coming out on top in women's sport points. Mount Olive led in men's sport scoring. - link
In sport and department fundraising events:
+ Lincoln Memorial is providing limited edition t-shirts commemorating its MBB national championship runner-up finish to individuals making a minimum $100 contribution to LMU Athletics. - link
+ Participatoin in Wisconsin Parkside MBB's annual golf outing will cost $105 ($40 for non-golfers to attend dinner and raffle/auction) with hole sponsorships set at $100. - link
New Yorker piece on Clark Atlanta baseball explores "The Mission of a Black Baseball Team." HC Carter talks about the evolution of many HBCU teams from all-black S-As to having predominatly non-black rosters, while recently deceased Major League Baseball Reviving Baseball in Inner Citiies program founder Jones is quotes as previously calling out administrations for allowing HBCUs to stray from their purpose in pursuit of on-field victories. - link
Through the Spring into Summer program Eckerd MBB is extending its season this month on a trip to Spain that will include three exhibition games and historical site tours. To prep, the team took a fall semester course to learn about the culture and role of sports in the country, plus a few key phrases in the native tongue. Per HC Ryan: "Originally we were going to play more games but that's not really what we wanted. It's more about learning the culture and touring the country and bonding with the team. We have six seniors who are going and it's a great chance for them to do one last thing with the team. It's a great way to end a very good season." - link
Central State FB S-A Isabell is featured in an article about the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum that was held last month. Active in student government and SAAC, the experince made quite an impression on Isabell, who offered that, "you think you're a great leader until you get around other great leaders," and recounts that he called his mother and "told her I never really felt this way around people that I just met. I felt they had the same mindset as me.” - link
Concordia Irvine women's swimming S-A Greenwald, who has cerebal palsy, is preparing to compete in the Paralympic trials for qualification to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Per one teammate: "To see her be so passionate about it has been really cool." - link
Presidents and chancellors in the news:
+ Western Washington board of trustees approved a five-year, $365k/year contract for new Prez Randhawa, a 12.5% increase over his predecessor. - link
+ California of PA Prez Jones was recently honored with the 2016 ATHENA Award, an international recognition that honors women’s leadership within the business and civic communities. - link
In other general academia news:
+ One bill recently submitted in the North Carolina State senate would reduce tuition starting in 2018 at Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State, and UNC-Pembroke to $500/semester for in-state and $2,500/semester for out-of-state students. - link
+ Northern Michigan is raising money for student scholarships through the sale of NMU-logoed state licence plates. - link
