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D1.jobs... New opportunities at the American Athletic Conference, Hartford (DIII), Illinois State, Lenoir-Rhyne (DII), Xavier and Wake Forest, below. 330 different DI departments have chosen D1.jobs to help fill their open positions. Click HERE to post your openings for tens of thousands of administrators to see.
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Wisconsin's McIntosh is the latest AD to directly encourage fans to support an NIL collective: "Please consider supporting The Varsity Collective and the opportunities that NIL provides for Wisconsin student-athletes. Your financial support, and charitable contribution, will help our programs continue to stand out among peer institutions and make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes." (link)
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Toledo is set for its first midweek #MACtion kick of the season as it hosts Ball State tonight on ESPN. It's also Rockets AD Blair's first taste of a Tuesday matchup: "I won’t know what I want to change or leverage more completely until I actually experience it for the first time. I’m excited. I told our crew that we’ve got to get to a point of how we think outside the box. How we market, advertise and sell tickets is almost completely different from the regular season to MACtion. We’ll play Ball State at 8; if you have a young family, that’s a hard one for you, because your kids want to be in bed at the end of the first quarter. So do we find a different group to advertise for than we would a typical Saturday game? On a weeknight where everybody has school or work the next day, you have to target specific pockets of people." (link)
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The 64-team field for the DI Women's Soccer Championship was announced yesterday. The four No. 1 seeds are Florida State, Notre Dame, Alabama and UCLA, while New Mexico State, Omaha and Pittsburgh make their first-ever appearances. First round action kicks off November 11. WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina will host this year's Women's College Cup December 2-5 and the semis and finals will be aired on ESPNU. (link - release, link - full bracket)
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Pacific cancels its November 10 women's volleyball match at BYU, citing the alleged racial slurs from the Duke match back in August. BYU's response: "The University of the Pacific’s decision to forfeit this week’s women’s volleyball match is unwarranted and deeply disappointing. Following the Aug. 26 allegation, BYU conducted an extensive review and found no evidence to corroborate this allegation. As we have stated previously, BYU will not tolerate any conduct that would make a student-athlete feel unsafe in our athletic environments. It is unfortunate that Pacific would make a decision that perpetuates the very challenge we are working to heal in our polarized society." The game will be marked as a forfeit, dropping the Tigers to 13-13 (5-9) on the season. (link)
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The D1.ticker 2022 FBS Attendance Trends Tracker has been updated with Week 10 data. Of the 15 programs with the highest YoY average attendance percentage increases, only Kansas (+100.45%) and Duke (+76.15%) come from the Power 5. (link); Over in FCS, seven of the eight best-attended games of the season thus far were HBCU matchups & all exceeded 35,000 fans in venue. Further, from HBCU Gameday: "Jackson State has competed in four out of eight of the top HBCU football and FCS football matchups. Through eight games this season, JSU’s attendance has reached a whopping 313,162. This equates to 39,145 JSU fans on average per game, home or away. Their home game attendance is at 168,197 over four games. This is an average of 42,049 per game at 'The Vet'." (link)
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Fox is set to broadcast a number of high-profile hoops matchups in the primetime window on Saturday nights starting with Indiana-Arizona on December 10th from Las Vegas. And, it's not just MBB that will benefit as "Fox has scheduled six women’s games for the broadcast network, a record high for the net. The most anticipated women’s game is a South Carolina-UConn NCAA championship rematch" on February 5th. (link)
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It's Personnel...
+ Front Office Sports reports that Adidas is expected to hire outgoing Puma CEO Gulden to the same role. Adidas CFO Ohlmeyer will fill the CEO role on an interim basis as language in Gulden's contract with Puma prevents the immediate move. (link)
+ SBJ has released its New Voices Under 30 list, which includes USC Director of Graphic Design Wu and MOGL CEO/Co-Founder Syal. (link); Full list. (link)
+ Want to work at Wake Forest? D1.ticker/Connect’s Eargle is joined by Demon Deacons Senior Assoc. AD for Athlete Development and Administration Dunn to discuss the department’s Director of NIL opening. Dunn talks about the overall culture at Wake, the major initiatives with which this position will be involved, which groups the role will interact with and the types of experience successful candidates should possess. More in the full Q&A, now live on Connect. (link)
+ How about Austin Peay? Eargle also talks with Governors Deputy AD for Student-Athlete Welfare/SWA Campbell about the department’s Assoc. AD/CFO role. Campbell discusses the overall culture of the department, what experiences applicants should possess, the initiatives the role entails, the reporting structure, opportunities for growth and more. Check out the full conversation with your free Connect account. (link)
+ Check out a bevy of administrative talent moves on The Wire at Collegiate Sports Connect, including transitions at Elon, Arizona State, South Carolina State, Richmond, Auburn, Mississippi State, Stetson, Illinois, DePaul & more. (link)
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Coaches Wire...
+ Vanderbilt FB AC Jackson will "step back" from the program while the school's Equal Opportunity and Access office reviews his comments on Facebook defending Kanye West. (link)
+ More from former Hartford MBB HC Gallagher following his resignation yesterday: "At the end of the day, it's better for the student-athlete experience if I stepped away. They will be treated much better now than if I was there. That was the deciding factor. That's the truth." (link)
+ Colorado State Volleyball HC Hilbert will retire after this season. (link)
+ Oregon FB HC Lanning when asked about reports connecting him to the opening at Auburn: "The reality is, the grass is not always greener; in fact the grass is damn green in Eugene. I want to be in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me. .. This is a destination, not just for me but for elite players." (link)
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Our condolences to the Syracuse family as former AD Crouthamel has passed away at the age of 84. He led the Orange from 1978-2005 and is credited with getting the school into the BIG EAST, opening the Carrier Dome and hiring MBB HC Boeheim, among other accomplishments. (link)
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Boise State receives a $750K commitment from an anonymous donor to support infrastructure and maintenance at Albertsons Stadium. According to the release, the gift is "anticipated to support the purchase and installation of LED lights at Albertsons Stadium as part of continued Experience Blue renovation efforts to enhance the game day experience for fans and student-athletes." (link)
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Gee v NCAA updates from Law360: The jury "heard a close friend describe Monday a once cheerful, dependable person who transformed into a helpless alcoholic as CTE allegedly spread through his brain." More behind the paywall. (link)
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Sportico's Caron and Libit dig into the professional athlete influencer app, Cirqula, and how by all accounts it has scammed dozens of athletes. Former UMass Women's Tennis student-athlete Collens was among the early adopters who signed onto the Cirqula platform in the fall of 2021. She had to borrow money from a friend to make the initial onboarding payment. According to Sportico, "Her deal came with the understanding that Cirqula would pay her a minimum of $20,000 a year once it officially launched." As Australian tennis pro Perez put it, "They marketed themselves as wanting to help the athletes who were struggling." Collens: "The biggest thing I learned from the NCAA is to follow the money. And (Cirqula) is another situation where athletes are getting screwed over by a money situation where somebody wants to take advantage." More. (link)
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Also Noticed...
+ Kansas State MBB student-athlete Johnson, who hasn't played in a regular season game since his time as a Florida Gator when he collapsed on the floor during a December 2020 contest, started in the Wildcats' season-opener last night. Johnson: "I'm feeling good, just thanking God every day for giving me the opportunity to get here and play again, just staying patient." (link)
+ Purdue's locomotive mascot broke down in the middle of the field during pregame festivities on Saturday. Less than ideal. (link)
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Yesterday's Evening Standard...
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The Dan Patrick Show today reported the Pac-12's addition of San Diego State as imminent, to which a number of reporters, including The Mercury News' Wilner, described as off base. The Athletic’s Auerbach cites a source: “It's been my understanding that the Pac-12 will do its media deal first before any conference expansion.” (link)
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DePaul AD Peevy talks with The DePaulia about the state of the Blue Demons’ MBB program and explains: “I didn’t come in thinking I’m some miracle worker that I’m just going to do a couple of things here and there, and we’re going to just win. I really wanted to assess what are the issues… and I found that the budget was a main issue.” Peevy says when he arrived, the program had the 10th lowest budget of the 11 teams in the Big East and was also at the bottom in terms of percentage of funding from the school. While the median for Big East athletic departments was 9%, the Blue Demons were receiving just 6%. Peevy: “Because we haven’t performed at a high level in a [long] time period, it’s been enough for people to be able to not realize what kind of impact basketball could have.” As such, Peevy has been intentional about highlighting the role athletics plays in elevating the university as a whole. “I talk a lot about athletics being the front porch of a university. A lot of people, the first thing they know about a school is its athletics program.” In his first two years, Peevy has successfully lobbied for budget increases that have shown tangible results, like chartering flights for the MBB and WBB teams to conference games. The next step, Peevy notes, is filling Wintrust Arena, and he ultimately wants to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. “Why am I in this if I don’t think we can finish above the middle of the pack?” (link)
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Kent State announces Phase 2 of the Golden Flashes’ Play as One strategic plan and notes the department has already completed 43 of the plan’s 100 action items, including the implementation of an NIL platform, the establishment of a directory of youth organizations and leaders and the formation of a task force charged with analyzing facilities and identifying priorities. Golden Flashes AD Richmond: “The time, effort, and care that has gone into implementing Play As One showcases how special a place Kent State is. It is exciting to see the plan come to life as we continue to deliver and improve upon a first-class, Division-I student-athlete experience that focuses on graduating student-athletes, boldly prepared for life after sport, and winning championships." (link)
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Kentucky has completed the $310M Central Bank Center expansion, which includes a new-look Rupp Arena, complete with a fresh exterior façade, remade concourses and updated seating, per Forbes’ Newcomb, who notes the “arena features a new suite level with amenities while preserving the original two-tier appearance in the seating bowl. The original structural towers were rehabilitated as a wayfinding element and new exhibition space, ballrooms and meeting spaces at the adjacent convention center give more usable room to the site. A multi-purpose space connects Rupp Arena with the convention center's expo halls.” (link)
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Hartford MBB HC Gallagher announces his resignation, explaining in a letter to President Woodward: “As I have communicated on numerous occasions, both directly and through my counsel, the University of Hartford has not only breached the material terms of my contract but has consistently and repeatedly undermined the men’s basketball program to the point where player safety and well-being has been jeopardized.” Gallagher goes on to point out that he was recently informed an athletic trainer would not accompany the team to a preseason matchup against Dartmouth, and “as I feared, one of our players was injured during the game – an injury that might not have occurred in the first place with trainer preparation. Moreover, the failure to receive immediate treatment from a trainer undoubtedly resulted in a longer and more painful recovery for this player. At least one parent has reached out to express outrage at this situation. This is something that I, as a coach, cannot tolerate.” (link)
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A former Coppin State MBB student-athlete has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that “by information and belief,” Director of Player Development and Director of Basketball Operations Brownlee, harassed, tormented and sexually assaulted the player before publishing intimate material he had obtained from the student. The complaint also accuses Eagles HC Dixon of failing to take action when informed of Brownlee’s alleged actions. Coppin State has so far declined to comment due to the pending litigation. (link)
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More Coaches Wire...
+ Iowa State extends Women’s Soccer HC Fannon through December 31, 2026. Cyclones AD Pollard: “I respect and appreciate the continued commitment that Matt is making to the development of the women in our program, both on and off the playing field. He is instilling the same levels of expectation, discipline and accountability towards our student-athletes that all of our head coaches seek.” (link)
+ UNC Asheville Men’s Tennis HC Hand will step down after 15 years with the program at the end of the season. (link)
+ Dartmouth will not renew the contract of Women’s Soccer HC Rainey. (link)
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NCAA Director of Leadership Development Merritt joins D1.ticker/Connect's Garcia Cichosz to share more details about four Leadership Development programs open now for administrators, student-athletes and coaches: the Emerging Leaders Seminar, the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum Facilitators, Foundations of Fundraising and the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy. Merritt discusses the specifics of each program, who the intended audience is, why prospective candidates should consider pursuing professional development and, most importantly, the application deadlines. Full conversation only on Connect. (link)
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Student-athletes from nine institutions represented by SANIL are using NIL to promote civic participation tomorrow, On3’s Wittry reports, noting that Bryant, Hofstra, Indiana State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Robert Morris and Rutgers MBB student-athletes, plus Creighton and Penn State women’s volleyball student-athletes, will share All Vote No Play graphics on social media and distribute coffee and donuts to voters on Election Day. (link)
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Southern Conference presidents “neglected to take action” on VMI-to-Chattanooga MBB student-athlete Huff’s transfer request, Mocs HC Earl tells CBS’ Norlander, who observes: “This means he'll be the only first-time transfer restricted from playing men's D-I CBB this season. It's a bad look for the SoCon.” For more context, Norlander last month reported Huff had one DI offer. “In March, his coach took another job in-league. The player followed him there. But the SoCon is the only conf. that prohibits immediate eligibility for in-league transfers. [SoCon] presidents hold Honor Huff's fate in their hands.” (link)
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Stadium’s Goodman reports there will be a MAC-Sun Belt Challenge starting next season, which will pair 12 MAC MBB teams with 12 SBC MBB teams for home-and-home matchups. Goodman notes the first game is slated to tip between November 8-11 with the second set for February 10. (link)
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SBJ’s King notes California’s Prop 27, which would bring online gambling to the state, appears to be headed for defeat at the polls tomorrow despite the deployment of a $169M war chest funded in large part by a sportsbook coalition including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Penn National, Fanatics, Bally’s and Wynn. The coalition, King reports, spent more money on the measure than has ever been spent on a ballot initiative anywhere – save only the $214M “laid out by the tribes that run casino gambling in California and are behind Prop 26, which would allow for sports betting -- but only in-person -- through bets placed at tribal casinos and a handful of thoroughbred tracks.” King notes that $91M was spent to oppose Prop 27 while the remaining $123M was earmarked for the dual purpose “Yes on 26, No on 27.” Prop 27 is currently polling at about 29%. Orrick Public Policy Practice Head Kudon, who represents the sportsbooks, remains optimistic about online gambling’s future in the state. “There is always work to be done between companies like ours and Native American tribes. … We’re going to double down on our outreach and double down on educating them, just like we do legislators and regulators, about what we do and look to find some compromise so that we can go forward and pass something in California.” (link)
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Deals, Deals, Deals...
+ Oklahoma will partner with mobile app StadiumDrop to enable contactless payment and express pick-up options at Lloyd Noble Center during the 2022-23 season. (link)
+ Illinois State is partnering with Fanatics to offer merchandise with the names and jersey numbers of soccer, volleyball and FB student-athletes, with options for winter and spring sports soon. (link)
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Quick Hitters...
+ Belmont unveils a number of enhancements to the Curb Event Center designed to elevate the overall fan experience. Updates include a new floor, new goals, new branding throughout the arena, new rotunda banners and new graphic displays as well as several suite enhancements. (link)
+ Arkansas-Little Rock raised over $294K during the 14th annual SpectacuaLR Gala. (link)
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