The meetings attendees engaged with prominent speakers, addressed key business items, and established ambitious goals for the 2025-26 academic year. The conference’s leadership focused extensively on basketball growth strategies, NIL education and investment strategies, potential House Settlement implementation, and strategic positioning to ensure the OVC remains at the forefront of collegiate athletics evolution.

“We purposely built the agenda for these meetings to ensure we are evolving as intercollegiate athletics continues to change,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “The energy and commitment demonstrated by our membership gives me tremendous confidence in our trajectory as we embrace new opportunities and strengthen our position in Division I athletics.”

Recognizing basketball’s pivotal role in Division I athletics, the OVC Board of Presidents engaged in extensive discussions examining growth strategies designed to elevate competitive standards while honoring institutional values and priorities. The Board committed to continuing this important work through a collaborative approach, working directly with institutional leaders to identify appropriate investment levels and strategies that will enhance competitiveness across the conference. This member-focused approach reflects the OVC’s commitment to moving forward together as a unified conference.

To maintain the OVC’s supportive membership culture and commitment to unity while navigating the complexities of the House Settlement, the Board adopted an innovative bifurcated governance resolution. This streamlined framework will allow the conference to operate efficiently while accommodating different institutional approaches and timelines, ensuring that all member institutions remain united and supportive of one another throughout the transition. The framework requires clear classification declarations, established compliance timelines, and maintained institutional responsibility, all while providing conference oversight and support that reinforces the league’s collaborative spirit.

The membership approved significant enhancements to the OVC governance structure, optimizing for maximum effectiveness. The former “Student-Athlete Well-Being, Academic and Policy Cabinet” has been transformed into the “Strategic Initiatives Cabinet,” which will spearhead forward-looking priorities including strategic growth, NIL advancement, professional development, and innovative student initiatives. This cabinet will work alongside the Sports Management Cabinet to drive conference excellence.

 

Demonstrating its commitment to meaningful student-athlete participation, the OVC adopted measures to enhance direct feedback mechanisms within the governance structure. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) executive committee members will now serve as integral components of the governance framework, and new working group approaches will enable student-athletes to contribute their expertise to areas of particular interest and impact.

 

Following extensive membership interviews and surveys, attendees participated in thorough strategic positioning sessions facilitated by Carolyn Schlie Femovich of the PICTOR Group. This effort represents a significant investment in the league’s future, with interactive sessions focused on charting the OVC’s long-term course and ensuring the conference remains proactive in today’s rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape.

 

The meetings featured distinguished speakers who provided valuable perspectives on critical industry developments. Amanda Conklin, NCAA Division I Managing Director, joined virtually to discuss House Settlement implications, proposed changes to Division I decision-making and sports wagering legislation. Matt Banker, attorney and founder of Matt Banker Sports Consulting, led discussions on effective NIL management and legal strategies. NCAA General Counsel Scott Bearby provided essential legal updates on House Settlement developments and NCAA litigation matters.

 

The conference reinforced its commitment to student-athlete welfare through meaningful dialogue with OVC SAAC representatives Peyton Hatfield (Lindenwood) and Duru Sibik (Little Rock), who highlighted key priorities including mental health support, community building, sportsmanship excellence, and NIL opportunities. Mental Health Empowerment Speaker Ivy Watts conducted a session providing practical strategies for supporting student-athlete mental wellness, offering valuable insights for enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.

 

The meetings approved venues for upcoming women’s golf championships and updated the hosting rotation schedule for cross country, outdoor track & field, beach volleyball, and rifle competitions. A complete 2025-26 Championships schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

 

The Conference announced its incoming leadership team with Dr. John Porter, President of Lindenwood University, serving as Chair of the Board of Presidents, while Kelly Wells of Morehead State will chair the Council of Directors of Athletics. SIUE’s Dr. James T. Minor concluded his year as Board chair and Southeast Missouri’s Brady Barke concluded his term as Council chair.

 

The League’s annual Honors Dinner recognized outstanding achievements across the Conference, celebrating OVC Male and Female Athletes of the Year Ray’Sean Taylor (SIUE) and Madolyn Isringhausen (Tennessee Tech), Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award winner Meredith Nye (Tennessee Tech), and welcomed two distinguished inductees into the OVC Hall of Fame: Velvet Milkman (former Murray State women’s golf coach and administrator) and Dr. Gail Richard (former Eastern Illinois Faculty Athletics Representative).