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Dixie State has received a $10m donation, the largest in school history, from Legend Solar to renovate and eponymously rename DSU's football stadium, including the expansion of 10,000 seats and construction of a grandstand structure that will house new locker rooms, restrooms, concessions and ticketing. Legend Solar will also install solar technology on the DSU campus, the largest at any school in the state, providing millions of dollars in energy savings over time. In a nod to DSU's recent mascot/nickname change, Legend Solar co-founder Alldredge, a DSU alum, said the two parties would "trailblaze our way together into a bright, innovative and energy-efficient future." - link
Colorado-Colorado Springs WBB HC Nelson was fired earlier this month after violating terms of his contract. In his two years, UCCS finished with an overall record of 47-17 and qualified for the NCAA tournament both seasons. Asst. AD for Media Relations and Marketing Verner on the situation, "All I can say is that he violated parts of his contract. It wasn't a resignation. We're talking to candidates, and we're taking applications at the moment. We're keeping it open until we fill it." - link
Following Albany State’s merger with Darton State (NJCAA), ASU has settled on seven HCs from the two schools. ASU WBB/VB HC Skinner, interim MBB HC Moore, T&F/XC HC Taylor, and interim WTEN HC Gray will all remain, while DSC softball HC Miles, baseball HC Hennings, and WSOC HC Veilands will return under the unified ASU banner. - link
Mercy has hired former Pace MBB HC Harter to be their new WBB HC. In his 16 years at Pace, Mercy AD Kilcullen on his new hire, who led Pace to three NCAA tourney appearances, "Jim Harter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our women's basketball program. As a former head men's basketball coach at Pace University, Jim has shown that he can successfully recruit and develop young student athletes. The program is in great hands." - link
No official word from the school yet, but a report indicates that Belmont Abbey is prepared to hire Iowa (DI) AC Taylor to take over their MBB program. Taylor was formerly a head coach at Lehigh (DI) and Ball State (DI) and an assistant at Notre Dame (DI) and UNC-Greensboro (DI). News surfaced after a former player and coach for Taylor tweeted his congratulations regarding the reported hire late last week. - link
Lynn announced that its Robino Golf Tournament this year was the most successful it's ever been in the fundraiser's 24 year history. The Fighting Knights' event saw a 25% increase in attendance and raised more than $90k for S-A scholarships. AD Crosby calls the annual event "one of the premier events in South Florida" and "a reflection of the innovative nature of Lynn University." - link
Complete list of the 15 DII members that were awarded more than $500k in diversity grants for the upcoming academic year. The DII Coaching Enhancement Grant provides $25k in 1st year, $15k in 2nd year, and $8k in 3rd year. The school is required to supplement the funding, as well as commit to funding the position in full for the 4th/5th years. In its inaugural year, the DII Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant is a one-year program that provides $22.5k to support the salary of a hired intern for a full-time entry-level admin position. In its 17th year, the DII Strategic Alliance Matching Grant provides a percentage of funds to help create full-time senior-level administrative positions or enhance current positions through the first three years. Each grant also comes with professional development funding. - link
A look at in-state rivals Southern New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce, which last week faced off on the baseball diamond as the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country. Both programs have built themselves into national powerhouses behind the strong leadership of their head coaches. The programs are connected by more than just geography, as SNHU HC Loiseau is a former S-A and Asst Coach for FPU HC King, who noted: "I feel like either one of these clubs is as good as any team at any level in New England. I think it's good for everyone to see us No. 1 and 2 because it's really not supposed to happen." - link
Not something one might expect to see in a conference title game, but North Alabama moved to 49-5 on the season after scoring 18 runs in the fourth inning, a new conference record for runs in an inning, to beat Valdosta State 19-9 in the GSC softball championship. - link
Weekly #scachat on Twitter delves into greatest challenges due to small staff size and how to address them, admin-only and coach/admin positions, the most desireable position to add to a staff, the most important duties for a small college AD, special events/traditions for graduation/year-end, and year-end personnel evaluations. - link
Three DII S-A were selected in the NFL Draft, while others have signed as free agents:
+ The Baltimore Ravens selected Grand Valley State’s Judon in the 5th round (146th overall). Judon was the consensus 2016 D2 Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2016 Gene Upshaw Award winner as the top lineman in the country as he led all of college football, regardless of division, in QB sacks with 21. - link
+ The Kansas City Chiefs picked Tyreek Hill of West Alabama in the 5th round (165th). Hill is the first UWA player to be taken in the draft since 1974, after transferring in from Oklahoma State (DI). - link
+ The Arizona Cardinals selected Midwestern State's Christian in the 5ith round as well (167th). Christian, who received the Cliff Harris Award as the top defensive player from a non-DI, is the third player from MSU to be drafted. - link
+ Running list of undrafted free agent signings. - link
Upcoming live broadcast of NCAA DII tournament selection shows:
+ Softball - Monday 5/2, 10am eastern - link
+ MTEN - Tuesday 5/3, 8pm eastern - link
+ WTEN - Tuesday 5/3, 8:30pm eastern - link
Two new website launches:
+ Pittsburg State has announced the launch of a new Gorilla Gear store, which is operated in conjunction with the PSU Barnes & Noble Bookstore. - link
+ Augusta has launched AugustaUniversityGear.com, which sells both school and athletic apparel. - link
Incoming Lee WVB S-A McMasters talks about what led her to give up hoops, for the time being anyway, and attend LU, "I found out my major (sports management) would be offered for the first time at Lee University in the fall. I realized I probably couldn’t play both sports at that level and I was going to have to pick one. Lee had the most to offer me. They saw me as a student first and athlete second.” - link
Another NCAA DII record for Missouri-St. Louis softball S-A Perryman, as she broke the single season strikeout record in UMSL's win over Maryville in the GLVC tourney. - link
West Texas A&M S&C HC Ramey will be named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Condition Coaches Association this week, becoming just the 15th female ever to receive the honor. Ramey won the 2009 Samson Equipment Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Award given by American Football Monthly andis currently in her ninth year at WTAMU. - link
Our condolences to the family, friends, and campus community on the passing of Texas A&M University-Commerce President Jones. Hospitalized since April 16th with an undisclosed medical issue, Jones wrote in an email to university staff last week the importance of taking care of yourself, "Stress makes everything worse, taking a toll on body, mind and spirit. We all know how stressful university life can be, for students, faculty, and staff alike, and I urge all of you who are dealing with stressful challenges in your life to get the rest and help your need. Even a lion needs a helping paw from time to time.” - link
In general academia news:
+ A look at the growth at Walsh since Prez Jusseaume took over in 2001. Since that time enrollment has grown 77% from 1,684 students to 2,899, the number of undergraduate majors has gone from 32 to 67 and the endowment has gone from $2m to $21.9m. - link
+ Republican Presidential Candidate Trump held a rally at West Chester last week and protesters from both sides of the political spectrum made their presence known at the event. - link
Idaho (DI) Prez Staben explains the rationale behind the school moving from an FBS (DI) to an FCS (DI) conference. Staben writes that the decision is "an unprecedented move in college athletics," but it is being made because "it is the best move for our university, and for our athletics program as part of our total university experience." Staben questions the growing “arms race” in major college athletics and says the university will "focus on excellence in competition and academics" moving forward. The chain of events started when the Sun Belt Conference elected not to renew the Vandals' membership after 2017. - link
