NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Monday that it will join the NAIA’s Southern States Athletic Conference as a full member, effective July 1, 2026.

The SSAC Board of Presidents voted unanimously June 4 to accept XULA’s application for membership.

In addition, three XULA programs — competitive cheer, men’s indoor track and field and women’s indoor track and field — will compete for SSAC championships in 2025-26 as affiliate members.

The SSAC was founded in 1999 and consists of teams in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
“We are thrilled to welcome Xavier University of Louisiana as a full member of the SSAC beginning in 2026,” said SSAC Commissioner Mike Hall. “They’re coming off a top-25 finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings and have a proud tradition of excellence both academically and athletically. Their addition strengthens our conference on many levels. We appreciate the leadership of President Reynold Verret, Vice President Curtis Wright and Athletics Director Pat Kendrick throughout this process and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

Said Verret: “Joining the Southern States Athletic Conference affirms our commitment to excellence and affords more opportunities for our scholar-athletes who excel in the classroom and their respective sports. We thank the SSAC for its confidence in Xavier University of Louisiana.”

Said Kendrick: “We are excited to join the Southern States Athletic Conference. We look forward to great competition in that league. We also look forward to renewing conference rivalries with Loyola, Mobile and William Carey.”

Current SSAC members are:
• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga.
• Blue Mountain Christian University in Blue Mountain, Miss.
• Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga.
• Dalton State College in Dalton, Ga.
• Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala.
• Life University in Marietta, Ga.
• Loyola University in New Orleans, La.
• University of Mobile in Mobile, Ala.
• Point University in West Point, Ga.
• University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, Tenn.
• Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga.
• William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The move to the Southern States will end a 5-year membership for XULA in the Red River Athletic Conference, which it joined in the summer of 2021. XULA teams will compete for at least 12 RRAC championships in 2025-26.

This will be XULA’s fourth full-time conference affiliation. It competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 1935-60 and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference from 1981-2021. XULA competed against Loyola, Mobile and William Carey in the GCAC as recently as 2009-10, and XULA and William Carey were charter members of the GCAC in 1981.

About Xavier University of Louisiana
Being America’s only historically Black and Catholic University is only the first among many distinctions that have set Xavier University of Louisiana apart for 100 years. Despite its relatively small size — 3,218 students during the fall 2024 semester — Xavier is a nationally recognized leader in the STEM and the health sciences, producing more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Its College of Pharmacy is among the top producers of African American pharmacists.

Its liberal arts-based programs in such areas as art, business, education, psychology, and political science — as well as recent additions in bioinformatics, data science, neuroscience, crime and social justice, and jazz studies — offer students an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities, and life experiences. The winning Xavier formula provides students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls.

The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine will launch soon.

For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram: @XULA1925. To interview XULA faculty, contact Regina Reyes at rreyes@xula.edu.

A team of 85
student-athletes will represent New Zealand across multiple
sports at the FISU
World University Games, held in Germany
from 16-27 July.

The FISU World University
Games are the world’s second largest multi-sport event
after the Olympics, bringing together around 8,500
student-athletes and officials from over 150 countries to
compete for medals in 18 sports.

For many athletes,
the World University Games are a key stepping stone on the
pathway to the Commonwealth Games and Olympic
competition.

Team NZ comprises athletes
from universities and tertiary institutes across New Zealand
and overseas. They will compete in a range of sports,
including archery, athletics, 3×3 basketball, beach
volleyball, fencing, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics,
taekwondo, rowing, and water polo.

Chef De Mission
Evelyn Williamson says the Games are a moment of
national pride and opportunity.

“Having 85
student-athletes wearing the silver fern on the
international stage is a point of immense pride for New
Zealand. It’s not just about participation, it’s about
showing the world that our small nation consistently punches
above its weight in sport,” she says.

“The Games
are a unique opportunity for athletes to perform at an elite
level and gain experience in a high-performance environment.
It’s where future Olympians are forged.”

New
Zealand’s history at the Games includes alumni such as
Eliza McCartney, Zoe Hobbs, Hamish Kerr, Anthony Mosse, and
Lauren Boyle, athletes who have gone on to become household
names. For this year’s cohort, the Games offer the chance
to follow in their footsteps.

“What stands out most
is the dedication these athletes show, balancing study,
intense training, and often part-time work.

“Their
achievements deserve to be celebrated not just for their
sporting prowess, but for the commitment, resilience, and
time management it takes to compete at this
level.”

From 16 to 27 July, the Rhine-Ruhr cities of
Bochum, Duisburg, and Essen will host 12 days of world-class
sport. With all venues located in proximity, the Games will
create a vibrant atmosphere, bringing together athletes,
officials, media, and fans from around the world.

As
Team NZ heads to Germany, Kiwis across the country are
encouraged to follow their journey, share in their success,
and support the rising stars of New Zealand
sport.

Notes:

• The
  delegation will be led by
  University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ), the
  organisation responsible for fostering competitive sport
  within the tertiary sector and promoting opportunities for
  student-athletes to represent New Zealand on the world
  stage.
• Follow Team NZs journey on UTSNZ’s Instagram
  and
  Facebook.
• The full Team NZ can be found on the
  UTSNZ
  website.
• Some Team NZ athletes are New Zealand
  citizens currently studying at international
  universities.
• Attached image (left to right):
  Victoria Li, Alexi Evett, Abby Wheeler, Sophia Tweddle.
  Credit: Colin
  McDiarmid.

© Scoop Media

WASHINGTON – The Atlantic 10 Conference announced Monday that 4,048 student-athletes received Commissioner’s Honor Roll distinction for 2024-25 academic year. Included in the total are 248 La Salle student-athletes, who met the criteria to be honored by the league. This is the sixth year in a row the total number of honorees has topped 3,500. For the Explorers, it is 30 more student-athletes compared to the last academic year. La Salle tied for the second-highest GPA among honorees, with 3.66.
 
This year, there were 406 student-athletes who achieved a 4.0 GPA, representing 10 percent of the total number of honorees. Additionally, 2,784 student-athletes recorded a 3.5 GPA or better for the academic year. The league also set a record with an average 289 honorees per school.
 
Designed to recognize excellence in the classroom, a student-athlete in an Atlantic 10-sponsored sport at a full member institution must have a combined fall and spring semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the academic year to be selected for the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Both freshmen and graduate students are eligible to receive the award. In each of the last eight years, the league honored over 3,000 student-athletes per year.
 

The Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy 14U Prime Team has much to celebrate after being crowned AAU Junior National Volleyball Champions. This marked the first championship for the 14U Prime team and the fifth for the academy, which is based in Collier County.

Priscilla Class expressed the team’s excitement, saying, “We’re going to get to AAUs and win and it’s going to be so exciting. And the dream actually came true. We all called it and felt it and we knew it was going to happen.”

Sophie Fong shared her reaction to the win: “I jumped up in the air and I slapped the ground as soon as I landed.”

The championship was well-earned, as Florida Gulfside played 14 matches over four days at the world’s largest volleyball tournament in Orlando.

“We’re only eight players. We don’t have bench so those girls, they played perfect,” said Miguel Dapena, head coach of the 14U Prime team.

“We were all so gassed but we knew we had to keep pushing because we were so close,” said Mia Berryman, whose ace started the celebration.

Dapena added, “There’s so many distractions. They want to go watch other games but they just stayed focused and studied the opposing teams. Being ready for the next day.”

Many players on this team are no strangers to winning. They were part of the academy’s 13U team that won the USAV Junior National Championship last year.

Sophia Baron noted the difference this year, saying, “Last year we were all really nervous because it was our first nationals. But I think this year we were more calm relaxed and played together a lot better.”

Class emphasized the importance of their success, adding, “It also means so much that we have weight on our shoulders. Because once we carry out that weight, it really means so much that we’re making people proud.”

The team’s togetherness on and off the court is a key to their success. This was evident early in the post-match celebration.

“On the first day, I remember when Maria first got hurt. I was like we have to win for Maria. She deserves to have a medal even if she’s hurt,” said Fong.

The team is not done yet. They aim to win another USAV National Title.

The 14U Prime team is set to leave for Dallas tomorrow to compete in the USAV Junior Nationals, the same tournament where they won the 13U championship a year ago. Meanwhile, the academy’s 13U Prime team finished third in Orlando.

Good morning! 

I spent most of last week in Asheville, North Carolina, attending the Division I Collegiate Commissioner’s Association meetings. To say there was tension in the room is an understatement, but the meetings remained professional, and valuable information was shared. 

There is far too much occurring in NCAA Division I athletics and The Big West for me to take some time off this summer, but for those at the beach: Friday marked the 50th anniversary of Jaws, which premiered in theaters on June 20, 1975. Please be careful out there!  Our song of the day is none other than the Jaws main theme — an appropriately ominous soundtrack for the CFP-4’s efforts to take full governance control over Division I.  

Let’s dive in to The Bold Type! 

 

   WELCOME TO THE BIG WEST, SACRAMENTO STATE!   

We proudly announced last week that Sacramento State will join The Big West as a full member beginning with the 2026–27 academic year — bringing our total membership to 12 institutions as of July 1, 2026. Read more >>>     

The Big West staff and institutional athletic administrators have work to do on new regular-season scheduling models, reviewing championship formats and continuing to evaluate the impact of the House-NCAA settlement on budgets and sport programs, but the addition of Sac State is truly a historic moment for The Big West.  Welcome to the Hornets! 

See some of the initial reactions on social media here and watch the media press conference with Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood, Director of Athletics Mark Orr and myself here >>>. 

   CONGRATULATIONS   

• To UC Santa Barbara alumnus and NBA rookie Ajay Mitchell, NBA Champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder! The former Gaucho guard was a three-time All-Big West selection, garnering First Team honors in the final two seasons, and was the league’s Player of the Year and Championship MVP in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the Ans, Liege, Belgium product averaged 20.0 points, on 50.4 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Mitchell is the sixth Big West alum to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Drafted 38th overall out of California-Santa Barbara in 2024 and now NBA CHAMPION in Year 1… Ajay Mitchell! pic.twitter.com/NzFf16kGYX

— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025

• To the fifty-four student-athletes representing six Big West member-institutions who were honored as members of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2025 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large Teams! Read more >>> 
• To The Big West student-athletes who took nine slots on the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-America First and Second Teams! Read more >>> 
• To The Big West track & field individual award winners, announced Friday after votes from our head coaches! Read more >>> 

   MEET THE WOLVERINES WITH UVU BROADCAST VOICE BRICE LARSON   

With Utah Valley University set to join The Big West in July 2026, excitement is already building. Hear from UVU broadcast voice Brice Larson on the transition and momentum surrounding Wolverine athletics. Read more >>> 

   NEW NCAA GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE   

The DI Governance Working Group has submitted its final recommendations to the NCAA DI Board of Directors. The recommendations still include 65% weighted voting in favor of the CFP-4.  If this passes the NCAA DI Board of Directors, four conferences will make the major decisions for all of NCAA Division I moving forward.  

I remain vocal in opposing this model — it centralizes power inappropriately and undercuts the broader Division I membership. Read more >>>   

   MEDIA UPDATES THAT MAY BE INTERESTING   

• Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reports that “commissioners received the latest version of the new NCAA governance model on Wednesday. The primary piece of the proposal – 65% weighted voting powers for A4 – remains unchanged. The DI Board of Directors will discuss at their meeting next week but no action is expected yet. The 65% percent voting powers provides the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC control over legislation and rule-making in certain aspects – if they all agree. In this model, three of the four voting in the same way fails to reach the 51% threshold – a key point. (link) 
• Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly writes in his latest blog post that “by every measure, The Big West – and hundreds of Division I institutions like us — are advancing the mission of higher education through athletic opportunity. And yet, despite this strength, we may have no seat in the future Division I governance system – because of a proposal that would concentrate authority based primarily on financial strength. That cannot be the model for the future of Division I.” Butterly goes on to submit that “having served this past year on the NCAA Council, the Council Coordination Committee, and as Chair of the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, I have seen firsthand how robust discussion across conferences results in well-vetted legislation that ultimately benefits the entire Division I membership. … The proof is clear: most Council votes today pass with overwhelming or unanimous support because of the collaborative work that happens in that room. This is why weighted voting is unnecessary. When all conferences are engaged in the legislative process, consensus is achieved through shared understanding, not disproportionate influence. The structure itself produces balanced outcomes without the need to advantage any single group. We have already seen, in complex issues such as the NCAA’s unfortunate recent settlement calculations of institutional liability, how limiting input to a small group can lead to unintended consequences for many conferences and institutions. Broader representation allows for a more thorough evaluation of complex issues that affect every Division I member.” Ultimately, Butterly contends that “this is not simply a debate about football. This is a defining decision about who governs higher education and intercollegiate athletics. The question before you is simple: Will you lead for the full breadth of Division I — or allow governance to serve only those with the largest football revenues?” (link) 
• Another House case appeal has hit the docket. USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz: “Another group of female athletes who objected to the House-NCAA settlement has filed notice that they are appealing to the 9th Circuit. This group is represented, in part, by lawyers from a firm called EQUITY IX, LLC, which works on Title IX, gender equity and NIL matters.” (link); Here’s the full filing. (link) 
• Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly joins College.town’s Kristen Eargle at the 2025 NACDA Convention for a candid conversation about the House Settlement, President Charlie Baker’s address to the membership and Butterly’s message to his counterparts on the proposed governance model. Regarding the governance proposal, Butterly notes: “You start to look at representation, and how we move forward as Division I, and if we’re not moving forward collaboratively and have diversity of thought in these meeting rooms because there’s a lot of diversity in Division I, I think we’re setting ourselves up for potential failure, potential additional lawsuits and other issues down the line if we try to shrink it too much and don’t have more voices in the room.” Butterly also points out the description of Big West schools as “smaller schools” is a misnomer because “if the Big West were a member of the CFP 5, we would have the second most enrollment within the CFP 5 conferences so if you’re calling them big schools and calling us little schools, the Big West would actually rank second within there. The Big Ten has a larger enrollment on average than the Big West Conference, but we would be the second most-attended or most-enrolled conference. … So, to call us small schools does a significant disservice to the Big West Conference or any conference that has pretty significant enrollments at public universities. Maybe, yes, we have smaller athletic department budgets because we don’t have major college football…but we’re not smaller schools.” Full Q&A. (link) 
• Cal Poly will not reinstate its swimming and diving programs. A three-month fundraising campaign led by swimming and diving student-athletes raised nearly $9M, but fell short of the $15M threshold Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong required to save the program. A letter from Armstrong this week: “This is an unfortunate reality given the approved NCAA House settlement, state budget and the tenuous situation moving forward for both the state and the NCAA. I want to reiterate that the significant and unequitable changes in the NCAA and the House settlement (and new organizations resulting from this settlement) had an impact that weighed heavily in this decision.” (link) 

   QUOTE OF THE DAY   

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”  Credited to Peter Drucker 

I am motivated and excited this morning as I think about the future of The Big West.  In 2026-27, we will have twelve like-minded institutions that are excited about their future in The Big West, believe in our strategic plan, our brand and sport philosophies.  I am hopeful our current student-athletes are excited and future student-athletes see the tremendous benefits of competing in a strengthening DI conference that is based in a outstanding footprint in the west.  To college sports fans and media, we welcome you to jump on The Big West bus and enjoy what is to be an outstanding ride ahead.  

Have a great week ahead.    

Be bold! 

Dan