National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Expands Coaches Connection Program

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II has expanded its Coaches Connection Program to include all National Collegiate Championship sports.

Division II created the Coaches Connection Program to provide coaches a forum for sharing information and, more importantly, sharing their voice in the governance of Division II athletics. The program enhances coaches’ engagement and fortifies their role as advocates for the value of Division II athletics, and it more actively engages coaches associations in the process.

“The addition of the National Collegiate Championship sports is significant,” said Debbie Chin, the Coaches Connection Program administrator. “Obviously, this is important for coaches who have teams that may qualify for participation in a National Collegiate Championship but also for athletics administrators, senior woman administrators and commissioners in Division II.”

Through the program, each Division II and National Collegiate sport features a “Connector” (usually a retired or former coach) who oversees a “Coaches Circle” that includes a representative from every conference sponsoring that sport. The Connector conducts monthly teleconferences with the Coaches Circle to update current issues impacting that sport and legislative proposals or policy recommendations being considered within the Division II governance structure.

The Coaches Connection Program has been applauded by Division II coaches, administrators and presidents.

“Coaches Connection is successful because it accomplishes exactly what the program’s title implies,” Chin said. “It connects coaches with a forum for sharing information and, more importantly, sharing their voice in the governance of Division II athletics. The program enhances coaches’ engagement and fortifies their role as advocates for the value of Division II athletics, and it more actively engages coaches associations in the process.”

The program was established in 2012-13 as a pilot program for football and women’s volleyball. The pilot’s initial success warranted an expansion in 2014-15 to include men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s soccer. Other Division II championship sports have been added since then, and now the program covers all sports in which coaches at Division II schools are involved.

“By adding National Collegiate sports, even more Division II coaches will be educated about how to navigate the system in order to have their voices heard and to promote their sport,” Chin said.

The National Collegiate Championship sports include women’s beach volleyball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s fencing, men’s and women’s gymnastics, women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s rifle, men’s and women’s skiing, men’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s water polo.

CLICK HERE for a list of Connectors and contact information.