OAC Tabs Otey

 

written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III     >> Good Wednesday morning. It's National Beer Day! Fill in your own punch line ... or mug. Cheers! >> Today's Word Count: 969 (4 minutes) >> Thanks for reading D3Playbook. Remember to follow us on Twitter @D3Playbook for the latest news and transactions   TOP STORY 1. OAC Tabs Otey   "After a nationwide search, the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) has named Sarah Otey as its next conference commissioner. She will start her new post in June. Otey, who currently serves as a director of academic and membership affairs at the NCAA, replaces Tim Gleason, who is retiring after 30 years leading the OAC at the end of June. She is only the second full-time commissioner in the history of the conference and the first woman to hold the post. As director of the NCAA’s academic and membership affairs, she has served as primary liaison to the Division I committee responsible for strategic governance in the areas of health and safety, inclusion and DI membership. She has also directed the student-athlete reinstatement team, and recently provided leadership on the NCAA’s DI COVID-19 project team. Prior to assuming her current role, Otey was promoted from assistant director of AMA to associate director of the AMA (Division III). Before joining the NCAA team, Otey served as assistant athletic director at Hollins University from 2010-2012, with a stint as interim AD. Otey played basketball and graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She was twice named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference team and was a three-time winner of the Generals’ “Barry Machado Women's Basketball Award” for leadership." >> Continue Reading   BANDS 2.  Hail Adrian!   The top fight song in Division III belongs to the Bulldogs of Adrian College. You chose Hail Adrian! as the winner over Heidelberg University's Victory March by a margin of 55-45% with nearly 1,100 votes cast. Thank you to all who participated in our 32-school bracket. And now, the Adrian band will play "One Shining Moment."   FINANCES 3.  A Pandemic Success Story by Emma Whitford, Inside Higher Ed   "Endicott College is in a better financial position now than it was before the pandemic, according to its president. After one of higher education’s most difficult years, marked by enrollment declines, furloughs, layoffs and steep budget cuts, Endicott’s success stands out. The small private, nonprofit college in Beverly, Mass., recently trumpeted its accomplishments in a press release: its endowment has grown to $119 million, no employees were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, enrollment hasn’t wavered and the college maintained its study abroad program this academic year. It’s the first college Jim Hundrieser is aware of that is coming out of the pandemic doing better than it was a year ago. Hundrieser, vice president for consulting and business development at the National Association of College and University Business Officers, has seen other colleges boast about single victories. For example, Florida Southern College, Belmont University and Vanderbilt University did not lay off any employees during the pandemic, he said. But no announcements have been as broad as Endicott’s." >> Situational Awareness: "Last spring, experts worried that small private colleges would be especially squeezed by pandemic-related enrollment declines, unforeseen expenses and a volatile stock market. For some, like Becker College, Concordia College in New York, Pine Manor College and Mills College, the pandemic did push leaders to decide to merge or close." >> The Big Picture: "In fall 2019, Endicott welcomed its largest-ever incoming class with 820 new students. This fall, it added 780 students, and it is projecting an incoming class of 800 for fall 2021. Endicott has had students on campus since September, and the busy campus helped enormously with admissions, Steven DiSalvo, president of Endicott, said." >> Worth Noting: "Ripon College in Wisconsin also has reason to celebrate. It has maintained steady enrollment levels through the pandemic. So far this spring, the college received 20 percent more tuition deposits than it did at the same time last year. Ripon is also on track to collect more deposits this year than it has in nearly 50 years. The private nonprofit college currently enrolls 816 students." >> The Key Stat: "In a recent conversation with a large bank, DiSalvo said he was told that of the 52 higher education institutions the bank worked with, only two -- Endicott and one other -- did not dig into their endowment to pay for COVID-19-related expenses." >> Keep Reading   RANKINGS 4.  Around the Diamond Rebecca Wheeler Photography This Week's NCBWA/D3Baseball.com Poll Trinity, Texas (15), 16-1 Washington, Mo. (9), 14-0 Salisbury, 10-1 Webster, 18-4 Marietta, 14-1 Cal Lutheran (1), 0-0 Aurora, 15-2 Babson, 4-0 North Carolina Wesleyan, 20-3 Chapman, 1-0 11-15: Southern Maine, Randolph-Macon, North Central (Ill.), Centenary (La.), Berry 16-20: UW-Whitewater, Washington & Jefferson, Shenandoah, Wheaton (Mass.), Rowan 21-25: Adrian, Birmingham-Southern, William Paterson, Augustana, Coe >> Hello: William Paterson, Augustana, Coe >> On the Rise: NC Wesleyan (+6), Marietta (+5) >> Slipping: Shenandoah (-5), Southern Maine (-4), North Central (-4) >> Games to Watch: #7 Aurora vs. Concordia, Wis. (Wed.); #23 William Paterson vs Ramapo (Thur/Fri.); #25 Coe vs. Loras (Fri/Sat.); #2 Washington, Mo. vs. #4 Webster (Sat/Sun.); #12 Randolph-Macon vs. #18 Shenandoah (Sat.) >> ICYMI: Webster tossed back-to-back no-hitters in a doubleheader sweep of Eureka last Friday. Matt Mulhearn struck out 17 in the first game, allowing just one walk, while three pitchers combined for the nightcap no-no. >> Complete Poll   Try It: D3Playbook TRANSACTIONS 5.  Comings and Goings   BOWDOIN - Kevin Loney named assistant athletic director for facilities and event management LaGRANGE - Terlynn Olds named director of athletics and recreation WESTMINSTER, Mo. - Donald P. Lofe, Jr. named president   1 THING 6. Soaring Eagles Congratulations to the Elmira College men's and women's ice hockey teams who both captured United Collegiate Hockey Conference titles this week. The Soaring Eagle men blanked Stevenson, 3-0, to raise the Pat Thompson Trophy. Chris Janzen turned away 29 shots and was named tournament MVP. Not to be outdone, the Elmira women downed Nazareth, 5-1, for their fourth straight UCHC crown. Morgan Mordini received MVP honors.     Thanks for starting your day with us. Please invite your friends to sign up for D3Playbook.    It's Free: D3Playbook

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