We Are D3

 

written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III   Donate to D3Playbook Won't you please consider making a gift to D3Playbook. Your gift will help us offset the costs of operating the newsletter and enable us to continue to provide the quality you have come to expect. Thank you.   >> Welcome to Thursday. Today is Twitter's 15th anniversary. You can follow us on the platform @D3Playbook >> Today's Word Count: 1,653. Well worth your time. >> More Numbers: 1,705 subscribers, 2,423 twitter followers >> Advertise your department's job openings with D3Playbook.  >> Thanks for reading D3Playbook. Share us with a friend today. Let them know what they're missing.   Please send D3Playbook to my inbox TOP STORY 1. We Are D3   by Carmine Carcieri, ESPN "After a smaller 2020 event that featured a 24-team bracket and a bubble because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Basketball Tournament is officially back in 2021 with a full 64-team field competing for the $1 million winner-take-all prize. The tournament will be spread across four separate regions for the early rounds and will conclude with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals in Dayton, Ohio, starting on July 31. With the full bracket unveiled, we break down every squad before the single-elimination event starts on July 16 on ESPN Networks." Division III has a team in the field for the third time, aptly named We Are D3. In two previous TBT’s, D3 has put real scares into Sons of Westwood (UCLA Alumni) and Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse Alumni) in both alumni squad’s hometowns.  The squad takes on Challenge ALS in its first round game in Wichita at 7 p.m. on Friday night and the game can be seen on ESPN. Ironically, D'Vontay Friga, a 2020 graduate of Mount Union, is a member of Team Challenge ALS Fenton Bradley, Western Connecticut Daquan Brooks, Western Connecticut Eric Demers, Gordon Adam Fravert, UW-Oshkosh Riley Hayes, Catholic Mike Pierre, Southern Vermont Brady Rose, Illinois Wesleyan Daniel Rosenbaum, Pomona-Pitzer DaVaughn Rucker, Washington, Mo. Ty Sabin, Ripon >> Team Page "There are three D3hoops.com Players of the Year in the TBT, but none are on the We Are D3 team. Jeff Gibbs is once again playing for 2019 champs, Carmen's Crew. Nate West is playing for the Murray State Alumni team (the Overlooked), and University of Rochester's John DiBartolomeo is playing for Aaron Toomey and Matt Goldsmith on The Nerd Team (along with TCNJ's Randy Walko and Amherst's Willy Workman). Jordan Dehm of Peoria All-Stars played at Eureka." - courtesy of D3hoops.com >> Read More About The Tournament A MESSAGE FROM BLUEFRAME TECHNOLOGY   The best and most reliable end-to-end live video streaming provider in college athletics is BlueFrame Technology. Join #BlueFrameNation and Stream Like a Pro with special pricing for D3Playbook subscribers! Learn more today!  PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW 2. Kelly Anderson Diercks   Kelly Anderson Diercks is the director of athletics at the College of Saint Benedict. She has had a rapid ascent up the ladder in Division III administration, starting as an intern and then assistant director with the MIAC. We caught up with her and asked about her path. When did you first become interested in athletics?  "My dad was a high school wrestling coach, so I've been around athletics as long as I can remember. When I went to college, my intention was to pursue the K-12 teaching/coaching track, however, I found college athletics and higher education and really feel this is where I am called to be." What (or who) inspired you to pursue athletics as a professional career?  "When I started in college athletics, I was fortunate to have three outstanding and strong female mentors. These women encouraged, guided and mentored me in a way I will be forever grateful for. I would not be where I am today without their support." What impact did the Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant have for you?  "The EMWI grant program significantly launched my career. The opportunity to have a paid, two-year experience with a built-in mentoring component and professional development support - I don't know of another program like it. I believe the NCAA support for this program, as well as their other grant programs, is playing a critical role in launching administrative careers for women and minorities." Biggest difference between working on a campus and for a conference (MIAC or MLC/MWLC).  "The biggest difference I see between the conference office and being on a campus is the interaction with students. I have learned so much from my experiences in a conference office (from governance to compliance to championships), but there is something incredibly special about watching a first-year student come in and over the course of their time at our institution really find out who they are and who they want to be in the world."  >> The Complete Playbook Interview A MESSAGE FROM PRESTO SPORTS   See how PrestoSports helps keep Hardin-Simmons ahead of the game, check out their story here: Learn More   CONFERENCES 3.  New-Look CCIW   The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) is excited to unveil a bold, revitalized identity to kick off the 2021-22 academic year. The CCIW partnered with New Jersey-based Skye Design Studios (SDS), a national leader in sport branding, to develop a modernized look for the conference. With the help of SDS, the conference now has a new logo system - composed of core, sport-specific, and member-specific marks - a designated font family, and updated color scheme that introduces 'CCIW Blue' to the original black and steel gray palette. >> What They're Saying: “This brand unveiling comes at a great time for the conference and its member institutions. We just completed our 75th year, and as we come out of this pandemic it is the perfect opportunity to celebrate a new chapter for the CCIW. It was important to maintain a tie to our rich history while also establishing an exciting and meaningful identity driven by our mission and core values." - Maureen Harty, Executive Director   >> Complete Story   ACADEMICS 4.  The "A" Team     The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) has released its 2020-21 Academic All-America volleyball and football teams. College of Saint Benedict senior Hunter Weiss was named the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award for Division III volleyball. The Shakopee, Minnesota native recently graduated from St. Benedict with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. A two-time AVCA All-American, she was the 2019 MIAC and Central Region Player of the Year. The nine members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.94 First Team Natalie Aston, Johns Hopkins Jacqueline Baughman, Trine Courtney Berry, Washington and Lee Elizabeth Chu, Stevens Allison Eikenberry, Cornell Emma Griffith, Chicago Sydney Portale, Susquehanna Hunter Weiss, Saint Benedict Julia Wood, Aurora >> Complete Team Mary Hardin-Baylor senior OL Steven Sellers was named the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year award for Division III football. A two-time All-American, Sellers graduated in May as a management and economics double-major with a 4.0 GPA. He anchored the Cru’s offensive line at center and started 31 of the team’s 33 games over the last three seasons. UMHB went 32-1 during that span with three American Southwest Conference (ASC) championships and the 2018 NCAA Division III national title.   The 25 members of the first team combine for a 3.81 GPA. First Team Gavin Zimbelman, Aurora, QB Luke Bikulege, Carnegie Mellon, RB Brock Martin, Ohio Northern, RB Cody Gustafson, Grove City, WR Ryan Hubley, Johns Hopkins, WR Jack Massie, Shenandoah, TE Nathan Basinger, MIT, OL Ryan Ehrets, Union, OL Dee Gose, Case Western, OL Tyler Howerton, Hampden-Sydney, OL Steven Sellers, Mary Hardin-Baylor, OL Juan Ocampo, Texas Lutheran, K Lou Duh, WPI, DL Andrew Frailer, Washington and Lee, DL Jackson Ross, Chicago, DL Travis Swanson, Linfield, DL Travis Johnston, Case Western, LB Mitch O'Hara, Mount Union, LB Ben Wong, North Central, Ill., LB Jake Beesley, North Central, Ill., DB Macauley Kilbane, Johns Hopkins, DB Sean Knight, Carnegie Mellon, DB Andrew Whitaker, Washington, Mo., DB Caleb Brake, Grove City, P Will Hurley, Washington, Mo., ST >> Complete Team   TRANSACTIONS 5.  Comings and Goings   ADRIAN - Matt Twiss named assistant men's soccer coach. Joel Snyder named assistant sports information director AUSTIN - Alyssa Freeman named head cheer and STUNT coach BARUCH - Nicole Bellini named head softball coach BELOIT - Ellie Waddle named head cross country coach BLUFFTON - Scott Black named head track and field/cross country coach CENTRE - Patrick Groschan named assistant men's lacrosse coach CLARKSON - Andrew Leek named assistant golf coach COVENANT - Jeromie Grammer named assistant women's basketball coach CURRY - Peter Roundy named head men's ice hockey coach DENISON - Adam Moses, Ian Formaz and Nehemiah Bowie named assistant football coaches DICKINSON - Matt Knab named assistant women's volleyball coach DUBUQUE - Emily Ryan named assistant women's soccer coach EASTERN - Corey Paluga named assistant baseball coach ELMHURST - Glen Brittich named interim director of athetics ELMIRA - Collin Hetherington named assistant director of sports information FDU FLORHAM - Kendall Luy named head track and field coach. Jason Boyland named head athletic trainer FRANCISCAN - Brent Ridenour named head men's soccer coach GETTYSBURG - Anthony Pompei named assistant swimming coach  GOUCHER - Ronnie Bridges named athletics operations and compliance coordinator GUILFORD - Jade Osterhout named director of athletic communications HOUGHTON - Chad Muise named head softball coach KEENE STATE - Justin Blood named head baseball coach KEYSTONE - Al Berger named head women's basketball coach LEBANON VALLEY - Linda Wawrzyniak named associate athletic trainer. Brittany Kirk named assistant trainer. Scott Reynolds named head volleyball coach MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR - Todd Haney named assistant baseball coach MARYMOUNT - Manya Puppione resigned as head women's soccer coach MCLA - Jennifer Mailhiot named assistant athletic trainer MEDAILLE - Brian Kehew named head baseball coach MITCHELL - Kelsey Goodman named head women's volleyball coach MORAVIAN - Kelly Anthony named director of fitness center and recreation NYU - Nikki Driesse named assistant women's soccer coach OGLETHORPE - Daniel Manget named director of sports information PITT-GREENSBURG - Chris Klimchock named head men's basketball coach ROCHESTER - Emily Wylam named compliance coordinator SAGE - Michael Haelen named head women's tennis coach. Megan Smith named head women's lacrosse coach. Alex Gilbert named assistant athletic trainer ST. LAWRENCE - Allison "Rosie" Phillips named head softball coach. Franco Bari named associate athletic director for operations and external relations SAINT MARY'S, Minn. - Hunter Anne Postier named assistant strength and conditioning coach SALEM - Barry Rymer named head volleyball coach SEWANEE - Luc Patberg named assistant men's soccer coach SCRANTON - Mia Collarini Wascura resigned as head softball coach SWEET BRIAR - Nicole Schimmenti named athletic communications director TRANSYLVANIA - Terry Justice announced his retirement as head men's lacrosse coach TRINITY, Texas - Annie Wise named assistant women's tennis coach WHEATON, Mass. - Alan Wickstrom named director of athletics communications WILMINGTON - Hanna Edge named assistant athletic trainer UW-SUPERIOR - PJ Piotrowski named head strength and conditioning coach   THE END 6. 1 Summer Thing Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix via Getty Images This sand sculpture under construction in the small seaside town of Blokhus, Denmark, weighs nearly 5,000 tons and towers 66 feet high. You know you will think about this on Saturday and Sunday if you are at the beach.     Thanks for starting your day with us. Have a great weekend. What did you think of today's newsletter? Please invite your friends to sign up for D3Playbook

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