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Lander VP and AD May has announced he will step down at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year. After 19 years in charge of Bearcat athletics, May says the "program is as strong across the board as it has ever been in the most difficult NCAA Division II conference in the country.” He continued by saying he plans to stay active and "retirement is not in my vocabulary," but he looks forward to not working 12-14 hour days and hopes the advanced notice allows for a smooth transition to his successor. - link
RMAC Podcast with Metropolitan State Denver AD Grant, in which he talks about the planning process for hosting the spring sports festival (including how the bid was won based on a concept for a facility that was yet to be completed), says host school really serves a "conduit" for the NCAA, gives his impressions of MSUD during his first year on the job, states goal of continuing "to be the gold standard in Division II," and notes the importance of visiting other RMAC campuses "to see what we may need to do to improve" and to identify MSUD's strengths and weaknesses, as well as to get a sense of what MSUD programs go through in their travel through the league's large footprint. - link
Southern Arkansas has announced that the main playing field at the newly-constructed $1.3m Mulerider Softball Complex will be officially named Dawson Field. The naming comes after members of the Dawson Family donated the lights at both fields within the complex in honor of two family members. SAU Prez Berry, “The Dawson family legacy will not just be in the bricks and mortar of this project, but also in the lives of the countless student-athletes who will compete and strive for excellence on this field." - link
A series of same-day videos documenting the Augustana MBB team's nat'l title run has generated record-breaking social media engagement. The videos, which were created by Mud Mile Communications, racked up more than 180,000 views on Facebook alone. The videos were also shared on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google+. MMC partner Burdine on the impact of the videos, "It's really cool to see this small, private university churning out content like I would expect from a major Division I university. ...It's serving a need, and it's reaching students and alumni in really impactful ways." - link
And speaking of videos, this release includes a link to one from yesterday's event that atrracted hundreds of supporters to the Elmen Center to celebrate Augustana's MBB first-ever national title. - link
Northwestern Oklahoma State will hold a press conference and meet and greet event tomorrow at 5pm to announce the hiring of the school's new WBB HC. - link
Fort Valley State FB HC Pittman will exit. AD Murfree on the decision to part ways with the seven-year head coach, "after careful consideration, I believe this decision is in the best interest of our student athletes, the athletics department and the institution." Pittman is the fourth straight FVSU football head coach with a winning record who will not return following a winning season. Asst Coach DeGrate will serve as interim HC. - link
Fayetteville State and MBB HC Kee have agreed to part ways. The former CIAA MBB Coach of the Year was appreciative of the opportunity he received at his alma mater and believes that "with the leadership in place, I am certain the university will reach their goals. As an alumnus, I’m excited about the future of FSU men’s basketball.” Assoc HC Thompson will serve as interim HC. - link
After six seasons in charge, Southwest Minnesota State WBB HC Kruger has announced her resignation. SMSU AD Hmielewski notes he expects the new hire to "build the success and competitiveness of SMSU women's basketball by strengthening our commitment to academics and the community, creating an environment that promotes and develops leaders on and off the court and by building a team culture and identity that re-establishes a winning tradition within the NSIC and NCAA Division II women's basketball." Asst Coach Oakland was named interim HC. - link
Just one season removed from his tenure as Angelo State MBB HC, Little Rock (DI) HC Beard has been tabbed to be the new MBB HC at UNLV (DI). While at ASU, Beard led the Rams to a 47-15 record and to the program's first NCAA DII Sweet 16. In his one year at Little Rock, the Trojans compiled a school-record 30 wins, earned the program's fifth NCAA Tournament bid, and beat Purdue (DI) in the Round of 64. - link
Sport and department fundraising events:
+ Kentucky State FB will hold its 2016 Spring Golf Outing In late April. Foursomes available for $250 and sponsorships for $250 and $500. - link
+ Tusculum FB will host its annual golf tournament on April 22. Tix are $30 per person or $120 per four-person team. Hole sponsorships range from $100 to $220. - link
+ Minot State and the Beaver Booster Club will host the 45th annual Beaver Booster Spring Party/Bert Leidholt Night April 6. Tickets are $50/person. - link
+ The 26th annual Jim & Blake McGuire Scholarship Scramble will be hosted by Fort Hays State on April 29. It is $140/person to play in the event and sponsorships are available for $100. - link
+ Chadron State will hold the Don Beebe Classic golf outing in late May. Entry fee is $150 per person and tix for the Saturday dinner are $20 for non-golfers. - link
+ Kutztown FB will host its 10th annual George Baldwin Maroon & Gold Football Golf Outing in late July. Registration and sponsorships range from $100-$700. - link
+ The 26th Annual Charger Classicwill be hosted by New Haven on June 13. The entry fee is $300 and sponsorships range from $200-$5,000. - link
Part II with Regis Interim AD David Spafford: The market of Denver is big. How does Spafford view the opportunities and obstacles of being a Division II school in such a large sports play ground? Listen to how he responds to the question of "fit." - link (length - 5:11)
The SIAC has announced that 12-year NFL official Symonette will be the new Coordinator of Football Officials. Commish Moore on the hire, "Tom’s distinguished officiating experience will not only be an asset to our league, but his professional relationships will also add great value to our diversity and inclusion partnership with the NFL.” - link
Backroom networker College AD gets some scoop on a new apparel deal for Texas A&M-Commerce, "The partnership will see Under Armour supply apparel and equipment for all 14 Lion teams as well supplying apparel for the entire Texas A&M Commerce institution. An official announcement is planned for 11 am Wednesday morning." - link
In Olympic sport coaching movement:
+ Adams State has hired Lubbock Christian lead assistant Bentley to be their new men's soccer coach. - link
+ King interim men's soccer head coach Stroud has been named the permanent replacement for former HC Migalarese. - link
+ Bethel (NAIA) head volleyball coach Ulmer has been named to the same position at Bemidji State. - link
+ San Francisco State has hired Wichita State (DI) top assistant Hoffman to be their new women's volleyball head coach. - link
+ American International has named former Southern Maine (DIII) head coach Pistone their new interim wrestling head coach. - link
Broadcast developments:
+ Grand Valley State has announced that six regular season games will be televised by CN900 and those games will also be simulcast on GVSULakers.com. - link
+ Molloy has agreed to stream its remaining women's LAX home games this season through the networks of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA). - link
In NCAA initiative news:
+ The Millersville SAAC is hosting its first 5K For A Wish on April 17th with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Entry fee is $20 per person. - link
+ The Barton SAAC will host the First Annual Lip Sync Battle on March 31st in Wilson Gymnasium. Tickets are $1 and all proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.- link
Three-time NE-10 swimmer of the year Cswerko talks about his mindset when transferring from Maryland (DI) to Southern Connecticut State when the program was dropped, "The University of Maryland was a big adjustment for me, going from a small club team to a big DI school.... It was challenging academically and for the number of hours we had to practice. The fit wasn’t good. When they closed the program, it was a relief. I stopped feeling so pressured.” - link
Kutztown pitcher Hultz, a Sergeant in the Pensylvania National Guard, was one of three people honored during East Stroudsburg's Military Appreciation Day. Hultz on the challenges he faces as a S-A, "Being a student-athlete-soldier is definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do as far as time management goes. ... It takes a lot of resilience and good friends and family who support you through the process that really makes it work." - link
Presidents and chancellors in the news:
+ California of PA announced the two finalists for its Prez position: CUP interim Prez Jones and Nova Southeastern Provost/EVP of Academic Affairs Rogers. - link
+ Interview with Shorter Prez Dowless in which he addresses the financial status of SU, student backlash over a Lifestyle Statement employees were made to sign, SU's long-range vision, plus cutting of academic programs and coaching departures. - link
+ Fort Hays State Prez Martin opens up about her personal feelings toward the US's recent diplomatic outreach to Cuba, her home country from which she was exiled and separated from her parents at age six: “For close to six decades, the Cuban people have been suffering, and yet, the president of the free world, the face of democracy in the world, is hugging Cuba’s Hitler. It’s unconscionable, and the American people just don’t understand.” - link
In general academia news:
+ With the California State faculty union preparing for a five-day systemwide strike next month, an independent fact finder has concluded that CSU should offer its teaching staff a 5 percent raise, along with additional increases for about 43 percent of faculty who make less than more recently hired colleagues. - link
+ In an effort to balance the school's budget, Indiana University of Pennsylvania will replace its flat-rate tuition for state residents with a per-credit charge that will raise the price of school for students this coming fall. - link
+ The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is asking for $21m from the state in order to avoid budget cuts. - link
+ Northern Michigan is planning to upgrade its campus in Marquette over the next five years as part of a $175m capital improvement plan. - link
