The Bold Type, with Commissioner Dan Butterly – May 5, 2025

Good morning!  

Last week, we celebrated crowning five new champions in The Big West, and a sixth happened last Tuesday as Long Beach State men’s golf secured a three-peat and new Big West record! Read more >>> 

Yet again, I’d like to send another BIG THANK YOU to all Big West staff, institutional personnel, volunteers, athletic trainers, officials, game managers and SIDs that worked to make each of our seven championships in April a tremendous experience for our student-athletes.  It is truly a BIG team effort, and I am very appreciative of each of you for your work. Thank you.  

To each of you, the song this week is dedicated to you. “Hall of Fame” by will.i.am. 

 

We’ve got three more Championships to go – starting this Wednesday at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif., for softball and Friday from Long Beach State as the track & field multi events get underway! More championship information can be found here >>> 

Let’s get to The Bold Type! 

   tHE BIG WEST IN THE NATIONAL POSTSEASON – CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!  

• To Cal Poly beach volleyball, who made back-to-back semifinal appearances in the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship as the No. 6 seed, taking down No. 11 LSU and No. 3 Stanford before falling to eventual national champion TCU. Read more >>> 
• To Big West champion UC Santa Barbara, who upended Rice in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship before falling to No. 2 Texas A&M in College Station, Texas! Read more >>> 
• To Big West champion UC Irvine and at-large selection UC Santa Barbara who competed this week in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship!  
• To our two teams and three individuals who punched their tickets to NCAA Women’s Golf Regionals! Due to expected weather in Lubbock, Texas, UC Davis teed off Sunday, and Big West champion Cal State Fullerton and Jasmine and Janae Leovao and Jensen Jalufka who open regional play today! Read more >>> 
• To Long Beach State and Hawai’i men’s volleyball teams for securing the top two seeds in the 2025 National Collegiate Volleyball Championship! The Beach and Rainbow Warriors open play from Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, May 8. Read more >>> 
• To Big West champ Hawai‘i who made the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship as the No. 4 seed and begin play from IUPUI on Friday, May 9, in the quarterfinal round! (Read more >>> 
• To Big West Champion Long Beach State and Big West student-athletes 2023 Big West Co-Champion Baron Szeto of Cal Poly and 2024 Big West Champion Tegan Andrews of Cal State Fullerton who earned entry into the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship regional field! They are set for competition May 12-14. Read more >>> 

  

   CONGRATULATIONS!   

Softball

• To the six teams set to take the field this week at Goodwin Family Field for the inaugural 2025 Big West Softball Championship! Good luck to Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, Hawai’i and UC San Diego who will be on the diamond in Fullerton, Calif., after a great regular-season where we saw a four-way tie for second! Read more >>> 

• To regular-season champion Cal State Fullerton for claiming back-to-back titles, and will host the first-ever Big West softball championship!  

Beach Volleyball 

• To Cal Poly beach volleyball head coach Todd Rogers, who was named to the NCAA Women’s Beach Volleyball Committee!  His term of service on the committee will begin September 1, 2025, and continue through August 31, 2029. 
• To the All-Big West Beach Volleyball Teams and Award Winners! Read more >>> 
• To the six Big West beach volleyball student-athletes who were named AVCA Collegiate Beach All-American! Read more >>>   
• To the three Big West beach volleyball teams ranked in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll! 
  • No. 6 Cal Poly 
  • No. 8 Long Beach State 
  • No. 18 Hawai‘i  

Men’s Golf  

• To Charlie Forster of Long Beach State who was selected to the international team for the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup which will take place June 5-7, 2025 at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina! The Arnold Palmer Cup is a Ryder Cup style event for collegiate golfers and is one of the most prestigious events in collegiate golf. Learn more >>> 
• To Long Beach State, 26th in the latest Clippd rankings after winning The Big West Championship.  

Women’s Tennis  

• To the 2025 All-Big West Women’s Tennis Team and award winners! Read more >>> 
• To the two women’s tennis teams ranked in ITA Rankings! 
  
• To our women’s tennis singles players ranked in ITA Rankings! 

  • No. 16 Amelia Honer (UCSB) 

  • No. 123 Ana Vilcek (UH) (LINK) 

• To our doubles pair ranked in ITA Rankings! 
  

Men’s Tennis 

• To the 2025 All-Big West Men’s Tennis Team and award winners! Read more >>> 
• To our two teams ranked in ITA Rankings! 

  • No. 35 UC Santa Barbara 

  • No. 44 UC Irvine (LINK) 

• To our four men’s tennis singles players ranked in ITA Rankings! 

  • No. 64 Gianluca Brunkow (UCSB) 

  • No. 65 Noah Zamora (UCI) 

  • No. 106 Azuma Visaya (UH) 

  • No. 118 Diogo Morais (UCSB) (LINK) 

• To our men’s tennis doubles pairs ranked in ITA Rankings! 
  

Men’s Volleyball  

Women’s Water Polo 

Baseball  

• To UC Irvine baseball who is nationally ranked: 7th by Perfect Game, 8th by D1Baseball, 9th by USA Today Coaches, 9th by Baseball America and 13th by NCBWA! 
• To Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara and Hawaii baseball who are receiving votes in the National College Baseball Writers of America poll. 

And more! 

To Angie Allen, Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Student-Athlete Engagement, who was featured in Sports Business Ventures – “How a Coach’s Daughter Became a Leader in College Sports.” Read more >>

And, to our Big West Player of the Week! 

• Baseball – Andrew Wright, Cal State Fullerton (pitcher); Chase Call, UC Irvine (field player) 
• Softball – Trisha McCleskey, Cal State Fullerton (pitcher); Ellyana Cinzori, Hawai‘i (field player); Sara Cocchillos, Cal State Fullerton (freshman) 
• Track & Field – Vincent Atilano, Cal Poly (men’s track); Rory Devaney, Cal Poly (men’s field); Mia Shepard, UC Santa Barbara (women’s track); Chelsea Aninyei, UC Riverside (women’s field) 

   WELCOME ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT   

We announced that Ontario International Airport, in addition to being “The Official Airport of The Big West,” has become the presenting sponsor of The Big West Baseball Championship, presented by Ontario International Airport. Read more >>>  Here is a peek at the new logo.

   NCAA LEGAL UPDATE   

In the intricate landscape of legal disputes involving the NCAA, recent developments have brought to light significant judicial rulings that could shape the future of collegiate sports governance. At the forefront is the House case, where a settlement approval was stalled due to lingering roster limit issues. Judge Wilken’s recent order has called for a collaborative resolution among the parties involved, preventing a potential trial. This highlights the complexities inherent in legal negotiations where multiple legal representatives bring diverse opinions to the table. The aim remains to find a consensus that aligns with legal precedents while addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders.  The deadline is Wednesday to respond to the concern of Judge Wilken. 

Concurrently, a notable victory was achieved in the Chalmers lawsuit, part of a broader series of cases involving former student-athletes. These lawsuits challenge the NCAA’s historical use of student-athletes’ names, images, and likenesses (NIL) without compensation. A federal judge in New York dismissed claims of ongoing violations, asserting that any potential grievances should have been addressed at the time of the alleged NIL misappropriation. This decision not only sets a precedent but also potentially discourages similar lawsuits, which could have substantial financial implications if allowed to proceed to discovery. 

Amidst these legal battles, the NCAA faces ongoing eligibility lawsuits that question the governing body’s rules and regulations. These cases span various scenarios, from the application of eligibility waivers to the counting of competition seasons. The Pavia decision, currently under appeal, is among the pivotal cases that could redefine how seasons of competition are counted, especially for junior college athletes. As these cases unfold, they underscore the challenge of maintaining consistent policies across different judicial interpretations, with potential impacts on the athletic careers of student-athletes nationwide.  

In another development, the Smart settlement, related to volunteer baseball coaches, nears approval. This settlement, valued at approximately $50 million, represents a significant financial commitment for the NCAA. It demonstrates the organization’s ongoing efforts to resolve disputes amicably, though it also highlights the financial strain such settlements can impose. As similar cases, like the Cologne case, continue to evolve, the NCAA remains vigilant in navigating these legal waters, balancing the interests of all involved parties.  The $50 million will be paid by the NCAA, not individual conferences or institutions. 

The current legal environment for the NCAA is marked by a series of complex litigations, each with unique implications for the future of collegiate sports. While these cases present challenges, they also offer opportunities for the NCAA to refine its policies and adapt to the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. As appellate courts weigh in, their decisions will likely provide much-needed clarity, helping to stabilize the regulatory environment for student-athletes, institutions, and the NCAA alike. As these legal narratives unfold, they will undoubtedly contribute to shaping the future framework of collegiate sports governance. 

   MEDIA REPORTS CONCERNING THE NCAA, BROADCASTING AND LEGAL ISSUES   

• Kennyhertz Perry attorney Mit Winter observes that an “issue with having buyouts/liquidated damages tied to NIL agreements is that schools and/or collectives have to show the amount was a reasonable estimate of potential damages in the event of breach. (link) 
• Disney CEO Bob Iger’s remarks at last week’s World Congress of Sports, where he noted that younger audiences are “gravitating to new platforms” and like “bite-size entertainment.” As it relates to Flagship, Iger explained the idea is to give younger fans more personalization, including multiple screens and camera angles. (link) 
• Former Arizona State swimming student-athlete/House v. NCAA lead plaintiff Grant House was “kept in the dark about some aspects of the case — mainly, he was not informed that roster limits would be part of the case, and they have sparked widespread backlash,” according to Five Star Fans Founder/CEO Tina Provost, who notes much of the ire has been directed at House directly. House explains that “the cuts have been happening for years, but now it feels like I’m the face of it. It’s hard to hear the anger, especially when people think I’m the reason their dreams are being cut short. I can only speak to my role in the settlement, but I didn’t come into this wanting to hurt anyone. I didn’t know that roster limits would be part of the case.” (link) 
• The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has ruled that Penn violated Title IX by allowing Lia Thomas to compete on the women’s swimming team in 2022. From the department’s press release: “OCR notified UPenn President J. Larry Jameson that the University’s policies and practices violated Title IX by denying women equal opportunities by permitting males to compete in women’s intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities.” (link) 
• Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich writes on notable language in the House settlement that “aims to ensure the plaintiffs’ lawyers won’t disrupt the yearslong, multimillion-dollar federal lobbying campaign in Congress the NCAA and Power 5 conferences have waged to protect amateurism and rein in the athletes’ rights movement.  The settlement essentially says lawyers for the college athletes—who have sued the NCAA—-must support any legislation in line with the settlement, and remain publicly neutral on key related issues, like athlete employment.” (link) 
• A California federal judge granted preliminary approval Wednesday to a group of roughly 1,000 Division 1 volunteer baseball coaches for their settlement under which the NCAA would pay $49.5 million to resolve their proposed antitrust class action challenging a since-repealed ‘uniform wage fix’ bylaw.” (link)  

   QUOTE OF THE DAY   

“Remember that as a mentor, you are someone’s hero.” – Credited to Billy Colburn 

Please have a great week.  Say thank you to your athletic trainers, game managers and SIDs for the work they have done for you and your student-athletes not only this week, but all year.  

Be Someone’s hero today. Even a small action can achieve that goal. 

Dan