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The WBB national championship game tips at 3pm Eastern time on CBS Sports Network
Lubbock Christian WBB HC Gomez talks about giving S-As a chance to transfer to avoid the post-season ineligibility that came with the transition to DII from NAIA, "I offered all of them, ‘If you’d like to go somewhere else and play in the postseason, we’d be glad to help you. ... But all of them are sold out to the school and what we stand for as a program." - link
And speaking of the LCU program, next season will be the first time in 12 years that a daughter from the Hampton family won't be on the Lady Chaps roster. S-A Nicole says it's the small community feel, a family atmosphere and a Christian environment that attracted the sisters to LCU, “I think those three things were top priority in what we were looking for. ... and it’s not all just basketball. It’s also school and making us a better person, and coach Gomez and LCU professors do a great job at that. It’s just a bonus that we’ve been blessed with good teams.” - link
Perhaps there’s not much new here, but this article on the LCU vs UConn (DI) exhibition game earlier in the season appears on ESPN.com. HC Gomez on the challenge of playing the mighty Huskies, "We wanted to go see if we could win possessions. ... We knew we weren't going to win the game, but we wanted to challenge ourselves to see how good can we play for multiple possessions. That's the focus you have to have all year, whether you're playing the best team in the world or a team that's not as strong. You just want to play consistent and play well." - link
UAA WBB HC McCarthy is relishing the role of underdog, as the Seawolves prepare for the national title game, "I think all of the pressure’s on them. ... They’re the team that’s undefeated, and everyone says they’re the No. 1 team in the nation, and so if they lose people are gonna ask them what happened." He went on to add, "If we lose no one’s gonna ask that question, ‘cause they’re the No. 1 team. It’d be an upset if we win. We were not even the No. 1 team for our own region.” - link
For the first time in his four-year tenure, UAA HC McCarthy made the nat’l championship the stated goal for his team this season, “Maybe that’s me being young and naive, I never thought, ‘Man I really think we’re the best team in the country.’ ... But this year, I really believed it, and I think more importantly, the girls that were playing believed it, and I think they believe that right now.” - link
Ohio Valley has added men's and women' s track and field for the 2016-17 academic year. OVU Cross Country Coach Hesson will assume the head coaching and recruiting duties for the new programs starting this spring. AD Porter on the additions, "It makes sense for us to offer athletic programs that are popular among high school students in our region...We are excited to provide athletic scholarships to local student-athletes and give them the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division II level in track and field close to home. We are the only Christian university in the Mid-Ohio Valley that can offer that." - link
After just one year on the job, Simon Fraser MBB HC Hill has resigned. The former SFU S-A led his alma mater to a 2-24 record overall and 1-19 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this past season. - link
Illinois Springfield has announced a new partnership with Hy-Vee, Inc. The full-service supermarket brand will partake in a sponsorship to support UIS student-athletes scholarships, cater and sponsor university events, supply gift cards for marketing promotions during home games and the company's logos will be seen on the basketball goal posts within The Recreation and Athletics Center. UIS Associate AD for External Operations Kabbes on the partnership, "This is a first class brand that we look forward to aligning our Athletics Department and University with beginning this year. Their commitment to serving the community is very admirable and they provide a great benefit to the city of Springfield."- link
Sport and department fundraising events:
+ Assumption will be holding its annual Friends of Assumption College Athletics Golf Tournament on June 17th. The cost to play of $700 per foursome ($175 per person) and sponsorships range from $100-$1,200. - link
+ Registration is now open for the Kutztown MBB team's seventh annual scholarship golf tournament scheduled for Sept. 9th. Entry fees are $100 per person or $400 for a foursome. Sponsorships start at $100. - link
+ The Dixie State women's soccer program will host a fundraising banquet on April 14th at the Falls Event Center. The event will feature a catered dinner and a special keynote address delivered by former BYU Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Ty Detmer, whose daughter Aubri is a S-A on the DSU squad. Tickets for the event are $50 per person. - link
+ Elizabeth City State will hold the Inaugural Athletic Roast & Toast Gala & Auction on June 4th at the RL Vaughan Center. Tickets are $75. - link
+ Western State Colorado held the 15th Annual Sam Boyd/Mountaineer Athletic Association Crab Feed and Auction Dinner presented by United Companies and Lacy Construction this past Saturday. Individual tickets were $50 and $55 and tables for the event were $500. - link
Devin Crosby is 41, he's enthusiastic, and he has a strong philosophy about using social media and technology in general. It not only helps support his brand as an AD, but the brand of Lynn University, as well. Listen to the first part of Devin's "2D on D2" interview here. - link (length - 5:56)
Weekly #scachat on Twitter covers handling leaks and inquiring media about big announcements, utilizing media and leaks when message is positive, which consituents get kept informed during big announcements/crisis situations, working with school PR and ensuring continuity of message during crisis managment, and ways to mitigate negative press. - link
Olympic sport coaching movement:
+ Former long-time assistant coach Wells has been named the interim head coach of the Saint Michael's baseball program for the remainder of the 2016 season. HC Strong resigned last Friday. - link
+ Asst. Heimbecker has been named the new head women's golf coach at Lynn. - link
+ Roberts Wesleyan has announced that women's soccer head coach McColl has resigned. Former S-A Groome has been named the interim head coach. - link
+ McColl resigned his post at Roberts Wesleyan to become the new men's head soccer coach at Daemen. - link
DII S-A Douglas won the college slam dunk contest this past Thursday in front of a national audience on ESPN. Douglas wanted to make sure he came out and put on a good performance for his school, “I wanted to come out here and put University of Mary on the map. ... Because University of Mary is a good school. Has a lot of athletes on the team that can get up on the team too. I’m pretty sure they could compete with these guys too.” - link
Cal State Stanislaus hosted a 26-team west region softball crossover tournament this weekend. Chico State and Humbolt State both went 6-0 against the competition.- link
SmallCollegeBasketball.com announced the 2015-2016 Bevo Francis Award finalists and 9 of the 13 are from DII. - link
Football S-A Carlson is transferring from DI Montana to DII Southern Nazarene to pursue an education in theology. Carlson on the SNU program, "They're very intentional about what they do. Their head coach (Andy Lambert) is so concerned with making great young men that that becomes the goal over just going out and winning games." - link
Franklin Pierce grad transfer Willey is making an impact in the bullpen for Arkansas(DI) this spring. Arkansas coach Van Horn on Willey, “He fit in right away in our locker room. ... He’s good with our team. I told him already that I’d like to have him as a coach when he’s done.” - link
For anyone who was waiting on this to schedule large events, it looks like plans for the $77m Fishers Sports Pavilion have stalled.Financing from GK Sports Development LLC has become the issue. - link
Friday was April Fool's Day, so raise your hand if North Georgia FB or the GAC got you for even a split second. - link (UNG), link (GAC)
In NCAA initiative news:
+ Saint Leo and the Make-A-Wish Foundation partnered during a recent softball game to grant a young boy his wish to take a trip on Disney's “Star Wars” cruise. - link
+ Twelve West Virginia DII schools are among 17 participating in the "It’s On Us" campaign, which is national initiative that aims to raise awareness of sexual assault on college campuses and promotes active participation by asking people to make personal commitments to help end sexual assault. - link
