The Day’s News

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Remember the TCU Search that was Down to Three? Sources Say the Horned Frogs Have Made a Decision

DI Council Recommends DI Board Adopt NIL Policy

• The Division I Council voted to recommend the Division I Board of Directors adopt an interim policy that would suspend amateurism rules related to name, image and likeness. The board meets Wednesday.
• While opening NIL activities to student-athletes, the policy leaves in place the commitment to avoid pay-for-play and improper inducements tied to choosing to attend a particular school. Those prohibitions would remain in effect. 
• If adopted by the board, the temporary action would remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted.

Nebraska Chancellor Says AD Search is Underway

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green on Monday said he thinks the athletics programs at Nebraska are stable and that the school’s search for a new athletic director is underway. 
• “We have framed up the search and are in the process of launching that search currently, including having significant conversations within Husker Athletics — with our leadership within Husker Athletics,” Green said. “I’ll be talking more to that on Tuesday.” 

Ohio Governor Signs Executive Order Regarding Use of College Athletes’ NIL

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order on Monday afternoon that will allow college athletes to benefit financially for the use of their names, images, and likenesses.
• Under the executive action, student-athletes enrolled in Ohio colleges and universities will now be permitted to receive compensation.
• Institutions will not be allowed to prevent student-athletes receiving benefits from participating in sports programs.

UMass Pumps the Breaks on this Senior Staff Hiring

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts Says NCAA Made a Mistake in Forcing NC State to Withdraw From CWS

• Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday that the NCAA made a mistake in removing North Carolina State from the College World Series. The NCAA announced at 1:03 a.m. Saturday that it had removed NC State “based on the recommendation of the championship medical team and the Douglas County Health Department” because of COVID cases on the team.
• NC State had been scheduled to meet Vanderbilt in the bracket final Saturday afternoon. The Wolfpack had lost 3-1 to Vanderbilt on Friday with just 13 players available. NC State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan said in an email Saturday evening that several vaccinated NC State players had tested positive for the virus. Those positive tests were in addition to, according to D1 Baseball, two unvaccinated players who had tested positive.
• Ricketts said Monday that the players, being young, were at low risk from the virus.

Illinois to Host Business Open House on Student-Athlete NIL Opportunities

• The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will host an Open House event for local business leaders to provide information and answer questions regarding the Student-Athlete Endorsement Act, which is expected to take effect on July 1. The Open House is set for Tuesday, June 29 at the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center at 6 p.m.
• The Student-Athlete Endorsement Act allows student-athletes competing in college athletics in the state of Illinois to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness (commonly known as NIL). With an expected July 1 start date, collegiate student-athletes in Illinois, including Fighting Illini student-athletes, will now be able to enter into agreements with third parties for endorsement agreements, appearance fees, private lessons, camps, and other similar opportunities.
• During Tuesday’s educational forum, DIA administrators will share details about this historic legislation and how to best take advantage for businesses and organizations.

Sources: Army Looking to Add a Pair to its Development Team

CSMAS Approves New Standards for Doping Test

• The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports approved adjusting the NCAA’s allowed testosterone/epitestosterone ratio to align with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s standard.
• The adjustment, which came at the committee’s June 14-15 virtual meeting, is an effort to further strengthen the drug testing program’s ability to detect cheating. CSMAS committee members voted to adjust the T/E threshold from 10:1 to 4:1. The move goes into effect immediately.
• The committee also extended a flexible application of the drug test penalty granted in the 2020-21 academic year for another year. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, teams may have played only a fraction of their permissible contests in 2020-21.

Ole Miss Argues that Not Providing Captioning on Campus, Social Media Videos Doesn’t Count as Disability Discrimination in Ongoing Lawsuit

With its “Incredibly Valuable” TV Inventory, USC Excited to Help Shape the Pac-12’s Future Under a New Commissioner

• George Kliavkoff’s tenure atop the Pac-12 begins July 1 — a groundbreaking day within a tumultuous summer within an historic year for college sports. It’s the first day athletes can receive compensation for marketing and promotional endeavors through the use of their Name, Image and Likeness. It’s the deadline to transfer without penalty for the upcoming sports cycle and the start of a new fiscal year for athletic departments reeling from the COVID shutdown. And it all comes one week after a key step in the playoff expansion process and a searing rebuke of the NCAA by the Supreme Court.
• Against this turbulent backdrop stands a conference desperate for new leadership and vision — a conference concerned about its relevance and its future. This much seems clear: When he takes charge Thursday, Kliavkoff will have strong support from the campuses, including the school with the most valuable football brand in the Pac-12.
• This much seems clear: When he takes charge Thursday, Kliavkoff will have strong support from the campuses, including the school with the most valuable football brand in the Pac-12. “I’m excited to partner with George and help execute a vision for the future of the conference,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn told the Hotline last week, in a wide-ranging interview.

NIL Prep for Schools ‘Like Building an Airplane When You’re Flying”

• For now, a mixture of state laws and NCAA guidelines is expected to provide a rough outline for what kind of money-making ventures will be allowed and what kind of products athletes can endorse. At least seven states will have NIL laws go into effect starting on July 1.
• Schools located in states without a law on the books will likely be required to form their own policies for athletes based on a short list of requirements from NCAA leadership, according to a proposed rule change that is being reviewed by the Division I Council in a meeting Monday afternoon. “It’s like building an airplane when you’re flying,” she told ESPN last week. “That’s what we’re doing.”
• Most athletic department officials around the country assumed for much of the past year that the NCAA or Congress would eventually prescribe a set of nationwide rules to guide them through the specifics of what athletes can do and provide the infrastructure needed to enforce those rules. But attempts to pass a federal NIL law remain bogged down by partisan disagreements.

Fairfield Breaks Ground on Convocation Center

• “Our commitment to athletics is a commitment to national prominence,” Fairfield President Mark Nemec said Monday at the ceremonial groundbreaking for Fairfield’s new Convocation Center.
• The Convocation Center will replace Alumni Hall as the home of the school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball team, plus the Fairfield Prep basketball team.
• The $45 million facility will seat 3,500 and will feature a state-of-the-art broadcast and media center, luxury seating and lounge areas. The center will also host convocations, concerts, and gatherings for the university community and the neighboring community at large, according to the school.
• The building is expected to open in November 2022.

Drexel Athletics Suite Named after Outgoing Athletic Director Eric Zillmer

• Drexel University unveiled the Eric A. Zillmer, PsyD, Director of Athletics Suite on June 23, 2021.
• The ceremony honored  Zillmer, Drexel’s Director of Athletics and the Carl R. Pacifico Professor of Neuropsychology. Zillmer, is stepping aside June 30th after 23 years at Drexel. 

Army Names Michelle Tumolo Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach

• Army women’s lacrosse has its next leader, as Army Director of Athletics Mike Buddie named Michelle Tumolo the Noto Family Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach.
• Tumolo arrives in West Point after a three-year tenure as the head coach at Wagner College. 

Pinnacle Bank Arena to be Represented by Learfield IMG College for Multimedia Rights, Corporate Sponsorships

• The West Haymarket Joint Public Agency (JPA) formally announced today it has retained Learfield IMG College for multimedia rights and sponsorship sales representation of Pinnacle Bank Arena through June 30, 2029. The company has held the rights to Pinnacle Bank Arena since 2012.
• Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Chair of the West Haymarket JPA, praised the ongoing partnership between Learfield IMG College and Pinnacle Bank Arena. “This is a win-win for Learfield IMG College, Pinnacle Bank Arena, and our community,” she said. “This agreement sets the stage for continued success for our world-class venue and the West Haymarket area.”
• Approved by the three-member JPA, the agreement provides for the establishment of a dedicated local team operating as “Pinnacle Bank Arena Sports Properties” (PBASP). Led by General Manager Aaron Babcock, PBASP will work directly with Pinnacle Bank Arena General Manager Tom Lorenz on all sponsorship activities and opportunities related to the venue.

Arizona Extends Women’s Golf Coach Laura Ianello

• Following a third consecutive deep postseason run, head women’s golf coach Laura Ianello has agreed to a five-year extension that will keep her at her alma mater through the 2026 season.
• Ianello guided the Wildcats to the 2018 national championship and made Arizona Women’s Golf the only program in the nation to reach the semifinals of match play in each of the last three NCAA Championships.

Leadership Gift Names Denver Men’s Soccer Head Coaching Position

• The University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation has launched its third head coaching endowment, the Jack and Sheila Weinberg Men’s Soccer Head Coach Endowed Fund, made possible by Jack and Sheila Weinberg.
• This leadership gift is the third head coaching endowment at the University of Denver. I

Troy and Baseball Coach Mark Smartt Part Ways

• Troy and Mark Smartt announced Monday a mutual decision for Smartt to step aside as Troy’s baseball head coach following six seasons in the role.
• Smartt will remain with the Troy Athletics Department as a special advisor to the Athletics Director.

Here are the Details Behind New LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson’s Deal with the Tigers

Year’s Donations to Arkansas Athletics See 13% Slump

• Contributions to the nonprofit foundation supporting Arkansas Razorback athletics declined for the 12-month period that ended June 30 of last year, a time period that included the first months of the pandemic. Total giving fell to its lowest level since fiscal year 2013 for the Razorback Foundation, and the organization’s expenses were greater than revenue.
• Gifts to the Razorback Foundation — either in the form of tax-deductible giving or made to secure tickets — play a major role in funding University of Arkansas, Fayetteville intercollegiate athletics, including salaries paid to Razorback coaches and some administrators.
• The Razorback Foundation finished the fiscal year with contributions and grants totaling about $27.1 million, according to the organization’s IRS return filed last month. The total was down about 13% from the previous year’s approximately $31.2 million in contributions. Expenses for the 12-month period that ended June 30 were about $27.5 million, down from the previous year’s total of $30.8 million. The foundation’s assets fell to $62.4 million from $62.7 million a year earlier.

NCAA to Ban Performance Based NIL Deals in Revised Guidance

• A system where schools decide their own name, image and likeness rules could prove welcome news for athletes and the various companies that seek to do business with them—so long as that compensation isn’t performance-based, the NCAA says in its latest NIL guidance.
• The NCAA, per new details revealed in its “Interim NIL Policy,” has decided to largely defer decisions on compensation for college athletes to states with their own laws or, in the event no such law is in effect, individual schools. The college governing body’s guidance, however, forbids on-field performance from altering the value of endorsement deals. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger tweeted the NCAA document on Saturday.
• Provided there is sufficient support from member conferences and institutions, the policy would take effect on July 1.

Oklahoma State Wrestling to Receive Facility Updates

• Oklahoma State will be making some updates to the current wrestling facilities this summer, PFB has learned.
• These updates will not take the place of the standalone wrestling facility plan that outgoing OSU athletic director Mike Holder had been working towards since the announcement of the new baseball facility. The search for funding for that project continues. But the general idea is this will get wrestling in line with the upgrades already given to the basketball programs and should be a nice step up while the administration continues to search for funding for their standalone facility.
• The construction is scheduled to start following the end of the summer wrestling camps.

Knight Commission Leader Insists on Commission’s Independence and Relevance in this New Age of Athlete Activism

• Three decades after its founding, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics now sees the college sports world embarking on the “transformational change” it has long advocated. The change just happens to be driven by an issue the commission has been reluctant to support: college athletes profiting while playing.
• This paradox finds the Knight Commission scrambling to establish credibility on athlete rights while being criticized by player advocates as, at best, ineffectual, and at worst, a fig leaf for the financially exploitative status quo.
• “I don’t even consider the Knight Commission a reform organization,” said Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, which was instrumental in crafting California’s pioneering name, image and likeness bill. Amy Privette Perko, the KCIA’s leader since 2005, acknowledges her organization has commingled with NCAA directors, for strategic purposes, but insists on the commission’s independence and relevance in this new age of athlete activism.

DePaul Names Michele O’Brien Women’s Soccer Head Coach

• DePaul University announced on Monday that Michele O’Brien has been named the head coach of the women’s soccer program. O’Brien assumes the head role after serving as an associate head coach of the Blue Demons since 2014. She takes over as the fourth head coach in the program’s 25-year history.
• O’Brien worked along former head coach Erin Chastain in all aspects of the program including recruiting, scouting and player development. Even before being named associate head coach, O’Brien contributed on the recruiting trail. The New York native was named associate head coach in May of 2014 after helping lead the Blue Demons to the BIG EAST Conference tournament in four of her first five seasons at DePaul.
• She was instrumental in DePaul advancing to its first BIG EAST title game in 2013 along with securing a berth in the NCAA tournament.

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