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Leibovitz named chair of DI Men’s Basketball Competition Committee

Dan Leibovitz, the Southeastern Conference associate commissioner for men’s basketball, will be the new chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Competition Committee.

Division II announces fundraising totals for Make-A-Wish

During the 2018-19 academic year, Division II schools raised $398,000 for Make-A-Wish as part of their ongoing partnership, which began in 2003.

UC Santa Barbara track and men’s water polo programs commit violations

The UC Santa Barbara men’s and women’s cross country and track programs violated countable athletically related activity restrictions, and the men’s water polo program violated impermissible benefits rules

All DI schools must create independent reporting lines for medical professionals treating student-athletes

The Division I Board of Directors voted Wednesday to require all Division I schools to create an independent reporting line for medical professionals who work with student-athletes, including team doctors and athletic trainers.

DII Presidents Council opposes transfer proposal

The Division II Presidents Council this week took formal positions on seven membership-sponsored proposals for the 2020 NCAA Convention, voting to support five proposals and oppose two, including a long-discussed transfer proposal.

DIII Presidents Council supports snacks proposal

The Division III Presidents Council took positions this week on five key membership-sponsored proposals that will be up for vote at the 2020 NCAA Convention.

Redding to retire as national coordinator of football officials

Rogers Redding, who has served as the national coordinator of college football officials since 2011, has announced plans to retire after the season. This caps a career in college football officiating that started in the Southwest Conference in 1988.

Board of Governors starts process to enhance name, image and likeness opportunities

In the Association’s continuing efforts to support college athletes, the NCAA’s top governing board voted unanimously to permit students participating in athletics the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.

DII Management Council supports notification of transfer proposal

The Division II Management Council took positions on membership-sponsored proposals for the 2020 NCAA Convention, indicating support for a long-discussed proposal to adopt the notification of transfer model in Division II and five other proposals.

DII schools earn Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence

Thirty-two Division II member schools have been named recipients of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence, presented to member schools earning an Academic Success Rate of 90% or higher. This marks the ninth year of the program.

DIII Management Council supports snacks proposal

The Division III Management Council has formally voiced its support for a proposal that would loosen restrictions on the snacks that Division III schools can provide its student-athletes.

Championship host symposium draws more than 270

Last month, about 270 people representing sports commissions and local organizing committees, as well as membership schools and conferences from around the country, attended a seminar in Indianapolis on hosting championships.

DI Football Oversight Committee sets priorities

The Division I Football Oversight Committee set strategic priorities through the 2021-22 academic year during a meeting in Indianapolis this week.

Former South Carolina assistant football coach had impermissible recruiting contacts

A former University of South Carolina assistant football coach violated NCAA recruiting contact and communication rules.

DI Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee reaffirms support of multiple-team event legislation

After examining multiple-team events for the past two years, the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee reaffirmed its support for legislation that would allow new scheduling options by the 2020-21 academic year.

Angela Mercurio named the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year

Angela Mercurio — a former Nebraska triple jumper who double majored in biochemistry and women’s and gender studies — has been named the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year. Mercurio accepted the award at a banquet celebrating the Top 30 national honorees Sunday in Indianapolis.

DI Council opts not to reconsider proposal to add baseball and softball coaches

The Division I Council declined to reconsider a proposal it defeated in April that would have added an additional countable assistant coach in baseball and softball.

DI Committee on Academics seeks feedback on Academic Performance Program

As part of a holistic review begun last fall, the Division I Committee on Academics wants to hear from member representatives, particularly compliance and academics personnel, about the Academic Performance Program, including the Academic Progress Rate.

DI Committee on Academics to provide academic integrity best practices

This fall, the Division I Committee on Academics will distribute to Division I members standards of review and suggested best practices for monitoring and preventing serious academic integrity issues on campus.

DI student-athletes graduate at record high rates

More student-athletes than ever are graduating from college, according to the most recent Division I Graduation Success Rate. The single-year rate for student-athletes who enrolled in college in 2012 increased one percentage point to 89%, the highest ever.

Mary Hardin-Baylor head football coach provided impermissible transportation

The Mary Hardin-Baylor head football coach impermissibly provided the use of his car to two student-athletes.

Emerging Science on Cannabis/Marijuana: Implications for Student Athletes

When Washington and Colorado legalized marijuana for nonmedical/personal reasons (note: there’s been a strong push away from the term “recreational” marijuana, since that term evokes outdoor or physical activities, including campus rec...

DIII Championships Committee advances realignment discussion

The Division III Championships Committee convened last month in Indianapolis, weighing in on membership-sponsored legislation and advancing the ongoing regional realignment discussion, among other topics.

DIII committee endorses snack proposal

The Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee took formal positions on a pair of key legislative proposals sponsored by Division III members.

2019 Woman of the Year finalists named

Nine finalists have been named for the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Each of the nine finalists will be honored at an awards dinner Oct. 20 in Indianapolis, where the 2019 Woman of the Year will be announced.

Laura Hebert named NCAA national coordinator for women’s lacrosse officiating

Laura Hebert was named the national coordinator of officials for women’s lacrosse, bringing three decades of experience as both an on-field official and a playing rules administrator in the sport at the national and local levels.

NCAA statement on Gov. Newsom signing SB 206

As a membership organization, the NCAA agrees changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes, but improvement needs to happen on a national level through the NCAA’s rules-making process.

Committee on Women’s Athletics supports Division III equestrian proposal

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics has voted in support of a proposal to add equestrian to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in Division III.

Two Georgia Tech men’s basketball boosters provided impermissible benefits

Two Georgia Tech boosters provided impermissible benefits to the men’s basketball program.

NCAA names Gina Lehe as managing director of communications—strategy and branding

The NCAA has tapped a seasoned and respected college sports communications professional to oversee its branding and strategy efforts at the national office.

Research grants awarded to 5 graduate students

The NCAA Research Committee has selected five research proposals to fund in the 2019 cycle of the NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant Program.

NCAA hosts 2019 Elite Basketball Symposium

The NCAA hosted the Elite Student-Athlete Symposium, which provides high-profile college basketball athletes with information and networks to help them make decisions and understand issues surrounding a professional career in the sport.

Division II Championships Committee recommends changes to neutrality policy

With the goal of enhancing the atmosphere of postseason competition, the Division II Championships Committee is recommending loosening a policy that commands neutrality during championship preliminary rounds.

Goal-mouth arc approved in men’s lacrosse

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved adding an arc within the goal-crease area to clearly define the “goal mouth” in men’s lacrosse.

NCAA responds to California Senate Bill 206

The NCAA Board of Governors sent a letter Wednesday to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, making clear its belief that this bill would wipe out the distinction between college and professional athletics and eliminate the element of fairness that supports all of college sports.