Division II awards 15 diversity grants to members

The NCAA has awarded more than $500,000 for the 2016-17 academic year to 15 Division II members to encourage access, recruitment, selection and the long-term success of ethnic minorities and women in athletics administration and assistant coaching. Recipients are selected annually in March by committees of their peers after a review of proposals that were submitted in January.  

“We know that an inclusive environment makes us better as a division,” said Terri Steeb Gronau, NCAA vice president of Division II. “One of the division's strategic initiatives focuses on providing resources that help schools and conferences recruit, hire and retain diverse groups and individuals.”

The NCAA Division II Presidents Council approved the implementation of grants through three grant programs to provide financial assistance to member conferences and schools that are committed to diversity and inclusion efforts within their athletics staff.

The Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant was restructured this year to better support member schools' needs in creating full-time assistant coaching positions in any of the 24 NCAA-sponsored sports. To support the salary and benefits of the new coaching position, the NCAA provides $25,000 in funding in the first year, $15,000 in the second year and $8,000 in the third year. The school is required to supplement the funding, as well as commit to funding the position in full for the fourth and fifth years. Additionally, the NCAA provides $1,200 during each of the first three years of the grant toward professional development opportunities for the hired coach.

In its inaugural year, the Division II Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant is a one-year grant program that provides funding for full-time, entry-level administrative positions. The NCAA provides $22,500 to support the salary of the hired intern and $3,000 in professional development funding.

Entering its 17th cycle, the Division II Strategic Alliance Matching Grant is a program through which the NCAA funds recipients at 75 percent of the proposed salary and benefits for the first year, 50 percent for the second year and 25 percent for the third year to help create full-time senior-level administrative positions or enhance current positions. The NCAA also provides recipients with $12,500 of professional development and technology funding during the first three years.

“As a core value, the NCAA believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. These grants not only directly support career opportunities for administrators and coaches but also enhance the student-athlete experience overall,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer.

For more information, visit ncaa.org/scholarshipsandgrants.

Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant (2016-21)

Division II Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant (2016-17)

Division II Strategic Alliance Matching Grant (2016-21)