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In a local paper op-ed, Anderson VP of Development Hughes details the relationship between Prez Whitaker and AD D’Andrea, as the two have worked closely together on a master plan for athletics that has helped elevate the AU brand. D'Andrea on his boss, "I can't begin to tell you what a difference it makes in an institution when the president is passionate about athletics. We're fortunate to have that in Dr. Whitaker. He understands as well as anyone that your sports can be a sort of front porch to the institution, exposing people to your great academics and campus life who might not normally experience it otherwise." And, Whitaker was just as complimentary of his AD, "It's a joy to work with Bill D'Andrea...He's a builder. Together, we have big dreams for AU athletics, and Bill gives 100 percent-plus to make those dreams reality." More. - link
St. Augustine Associate AD Kelly has been hired to become the AD at Keene State (DIII). KSC VP for Student Affairs and Interim AD Atkins on the hire, "(Kelly) has touched every aspect of athletics administration throughout her career. ... I am confident that her positive contributions to the college will extend beyond our athletics and recreational sports programs." Kelly replaces John Ratliff, who retired last May after 20 years at the college in the wake of an investigation into sexual misconduct by a former employee. The probe also led to the firing or release of three long-time coaches. - link
Missouri Western State is putting on the finishing touches to the $7.9m renovation project at Spratt Memorial Stadium. The final step is the installment of the $2.6m scoreboard, which should be completed by August. The LED video display, at approximately 2,500 square feet, will be the largest in NCAA DII. Besides the new scoreboard, a new field and 26,000-square-foot clubhouse were the key upgrades during the project. AD McGuffin on the impact of the stadium renovations, "This part of the project is really going to help our athletic budget and it’s good for the community too as we continue to host Chiefs camp and other things in this venue." - link
Concordia-St. Paul announced they have removed the interim tag from WBB HC Behnke. The fourth-year coach was officially rewarded the job after the Golden Bears ended the season in a strong fashion following Behnke taking over the team at the start of the New Year. Associate AD McAthie on Behnke, "She'll bring a lot of energy and her passion for Concordia is unmatched." - link
Alaska Fairbanks will apply for a waiver from the NCAA if recent budget cuts to the UA system force them to eliminate any sports. UAF currently has 10 varsity athletic programs — the minimum needed for NCAA Division II status. University of Alaska President Johnsen has estimated that 400 to 500 jobs in the UA system could be eliminated because of the cuts. - link
Wade through the minutiae and this student newspaper article lays bare the FY15 expenses for Illinois Springfield, although outgoing AD Pate admits that the numbers are be fuzzy: "Every school struggles with this report. They’re also asking for things in this report that...never hits my budget line. ...We don’t know where it comes from, you know, those numbers kind of ebb and fall based on the overall university’s indirect costs package...so there’s numbers that really don’t represent our budget." Pate also notes that female coaching salaries are market-driven, which is why they typically make less than male coaches. - link
In recently announced ticket pricing:
+ Grand Valley State FB has released their 2016 ticket packages. Season tickets range from $72-$150, Family Fun Night packages are $50, the Home Field Advantage package is $20 and the Flex Plan is $75. - link
+ Texas A&M-Kingsville has announced its season ticket prices and home game promotions for the upcoming 2016 football season. Season ticket packages start at $40. - link
Aspiring DII Auburn Montgomery (NAIA) has announced the resignation of volleyball HC Wetzel. The school also announced their decision to delay the start of the volleyball program until the fall of 2017 rather than the originally slated start this upcoming fall. The decision will have no impact on AUM's process in the NCAA DII transition, as it still meets the requirements of 10 sponsored varsity sports. AD Herlihy on delaying the start of the program, "Although this is not the ideal situation, we felt this was the best option for the future of the volleyball program...The delay will also allow us to fully fill a competitive roster and develop a complete schedule. Our goal is to hire a head coach, spend this fall practicing and launch our inaugural season in the fall of 2017." - link
As the season draws to a close, St. Cloud State tennis S-As & HC talk about competing knowing the men's and women's programs will no longer exist after this spring. Women's tennis S-A O'Brien on dealing with the difficult situation, "We go to meets representing our school and our athletic department. But it's hard to feel valued when they're not keeping the sport around." Men's and women's HC Anderson echoed those sentiments, "At some point in time, it's going to hit us all that it's over. And there are a lot of bitter feelings about that. But we're trying not let them override the good feelings we all have about the players and teammates we've been lucky enough to work with." - link
GNAC Commish Haglund announced on his blog that Alaska Anchorage Sr. Associate AD McDiffett has been named as the West Region representative to the NCAA DII Volleyball Committee and Northwest Nazarene Assistant AD and Golf HC Stensgaard has been appointed as the West/South Central rep to the NCAA DII Men's Golf Committee. - link
The NCAA has announced the field of 80 teams and 32 S-As competing as individuals that have been selected to participate in regional competition of the 2016 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships. Regional play will be conducted May 2-4 with the finals taking place May 17-21 at Green Valley Ranch in Denver, Colorado. Charleston, Wilmington, Central Missouri, Missouri-St. Louis, Lynn, Flagler, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Chico State are the #1 seeds. - link
Lubbock Christian Prez Perrin wrote a column in the local paper thanking the community for their support during the WBB team's nat’l title run. Perrin writes, "LCU was founded by Lubbock community leaders in 1957, and we are very much a part of the fabric of Lubbock. And proudly so. We happily take the name of Lubbock everywhere we go, and that makes it doubly special to see our community embrace the university and the achievements of our extraordinary students. ... We are humbled by the outpouring of support. Thank you, Lubbock!" - link
Weekly #scachat on Twitter pulls topics from the book "5 Gears," including tactics for transitioning in and out of 5th gear ("the zone"), managing a to-do list and staying productive while in "task mode," best practices for connecting and being present with people, best practices to "turn it off" to maintain relationships at home and outside the office, and ways to rest and recharge. - link
New '2D on D2' & the first time we've had a President involved: A journey from being a student-athlete at Wingate to being the university's president, Dr. Rhett Brown has lived a unique Division II life. Listen to Part I by clicking the link. - link (length - 4:51)
In Olympic sport coaching movement:
+ Rogers State has announced the interim tag has been removed for Vaughan as she has been named the Hillcats softball HC. - link
+ After 34 years at Central Oklahoma, it has been announced that David James will not return next season as UCO’s head wrestling coach. The university has offered James another position in the athletic department, but he has yet to make a decision on whether or not he will stay. - link
+ Adilyn (Addie) Wadley has been named the first women’s lacrosse coach at Lee. Wadley was the head women's lacrosse coach for the club program at Oregon (DI). - link
+ We may have missed this at the time of the initial announcement, but Urbana women's LAX HC Hilton is retiring. - link
Northern Kentucky (DI) WBB HC Plitzuweit has been named to the same position at South Dakota (DI). The Norse, who defeated USD in the NCAA Division II national title game in 2008, moved up a level in 2012 and were in their last season of transition to NCAA Division I this year. Plitzuweit is a former AC at Grand Valley State and Michigan Tech. GVSU WBB HC Williams, who has worked alongside Plitzuweit at GVSU and Michigan (DI), "She is a tireless worker, she has incredible energy and she has great knowledge of the game. ... I can't emphasize the energy enough. She's a person of great energy and great character." - link
In digital media interface updates:
+ Lock Haven has unveiled their new camps and clinics website, LockHavenCamps.com. - link
+ St. Thomas Aquinas and UT Permian Basin have both redesigned their on-line stores. - link (STAC), link (UTPB)
In NCAA initiative news:
+ New Haven and Make-A-Wish Connecticut partnered during the football team's spring game to make a young boy's wish come true. - link
+ Maryville's SAAC recently hosted its fourth annual "Night With A Twist" fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The 2016 edition was the most successful night in the program's history as $1,286 was raised with all funds donated to Make-A-Wish. - link
Presidents and chancellors in the news:
+ The Board of Trustees at Kutztown have given Prez Hawkinson an unqualified endorsement, recommending that he stay in office for the next school year. - link
+ West Virginia State has revealed that Shippensburg Provost/EVP Lyman is the school's first presidential finalist. - link
Ohio Valley has announced plans to build an Alternative Clean Energy (ACE) training center. Executive Vice President and OVU-ACE, LLC President Dimick on the project, "We are excited to publicly announce ACE, a new for-profit venture that will also serve as a research and development center for OVU students. The project will create an alternative revenue source for Ohio Valley University to assist in funding strategic initiatives, provide internships and increase endowments for various scholarships and facilities enhancements." - link
