Coaches’ groups state opposition to temporary changes in NCAA Division I sport-membership rules
Representatives of 17 coaches’ associations have written to NCAA President Mark Emmert opposing a recent proposal from a group of college conference commissioners that the association consider providing schools temporary relief amid the coronavirus pandemic from several Division I membership requirements, including one that sets the minimum number of varsity teams schools must field.
In a letter to Emmert dated April 10, the commissioners of the Group of Five conferences – the American Athletic, Conference USA, the Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt – said: “In order to provide NCAA Division I institutions flexibility in addressing the challenges for the foreseeable future, we request temporary relief from several regulatory requirements for a period of up to four years. A blanket waiver for relief will provide institutions the ability to make prudent and necessary decisions for the financial well-being of the institution.”
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The coaches’ groups, from so-called non-revenue sports, have responded with a letter in which they expressed concern that a temporary waiver of the sport-sponsorship requirement would result in permanent cuts.
“The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic places a lasting burden on both higher education and intercollegiate athletics alike,” the letter says, “but slashing opportunities for students is not the solution. … Reducing the minimum sports sponsorship requirement that would open the door to eliminating sports should not be an option.”
The letter comes from associations representing coaches in baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling and golf, among others.
