The Big West continues to play an influential role in shaping the future of collegiate athletics, with conference leaders, institutional administrators and student-athletes serving on a wide range of NCAA national committees during the 2025–26 academic year and beyond. 
 

From governance groups to sport-specific oversight, Big West representatives are helping guide policy and competition at the highest level of NCAA Division I. 
 

“Representation at the national level within the new NCAA governance structure is essential for advancing shared priorities and ensuring the voices of all of The Big West member-institutions and student-athletes are heard,” said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. “I am proud of the dedicated individuals across our membership who are serving in these important NCAA leadership roles, and pleased to continue my own active role of boldly advocating for the conference and the entire Division I Basketball Subdivision.” 
 

Butterly serves on both the newly-formed Division I Cabinet and as Chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee through August 2026, ensuring the conference has a prominent voice in shaping key initiatives across the NCAA landscape. Formerly known as the Administrative Committee, the Cabinet has legislative and policy oversight over key areas for Division I, such as ethical conduct, academic and athletics eligibility, membership, and championships, and operates under the higher authority of the Division I Board of Directors. Butterly also serves as the Division I Basketball Subdivision representative on the NCAA Division I Cabinet Subcommittee.  The Council Subcommittee is empowered to transact the business and administer the affairs of the Cabinet between Cabinet meetings. 
 

UC Santa Barbara Director of Athletics Kelly Barsky and UC Riverside student-athlete Maya Chocano (UC Riverside) are lending their experience and expertise to the Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee. Barsky will continue to serve as the Chair the WBOC through August 2026.   
 

With Barksy and Butterly serving as chairs of the WBOC and MBOC, respectively, The Big West is helping direct the strategic vision of NCAA basketball, nationally. The oversight committees focus on enhancing the student-athlete experience and developing and promoting the sport. The committees ensure that appropriate oversight of women’s and men’s basketball is maintained, will enhance the development and public perception of the sports and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason basketball. The committees prioritize enhancement of the student-athlete educational experience (academically and athletically), and in doing so, promote student-athletes’ personal growth and leadership development. 
 

The Basketball Oversight Committees supervise qualifications and/or selection procedures for the NCAA Division I Basketball Championships. The committee review recommendations from the NCAA Division I Basketball Committees and process other issues related to the administration of the championships. 
 

Being chosen for this position feels like both an honor and a responsibility,” added Chocano, a junior for the Highlanders. “I hope to bring more empathy and understanding into how decisions are made to make sure policies and changes truly reflect what’s best for athletes both on and off the court. More than anything, I want to help create a culture where student-athletes feel seen, supported, and empowered to use their voices, just like I’m being given the chance to use mine here.” 
 

UC Irvine administrators are playing a role on four committees as John Hauscarriague continues to lead nationally as Chair of the Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Oversight Committee, with Anteaters’ Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Paula Smith (Men’s Volleyball), Erica Monteabaro (Women’s Water Polo), and Jaime Potter (Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports) providing critical perspectives in sport governance and student-athlete well-being. 
 

Big West student-athletes are also actively participating on the national stage with Kyla Bruhn of UC San Diego serving a term on the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), providing direct input on issues impacting the student-athlete experience. With a direct link to the SAAC, Zoe Borter (UC Santa Barbara) and Parker Strauss (UC Riverside) serve as The Big West representatives on their respective Student-Athlete Engagement Groups to provide a direct voice for basketball student-athletes, providing advice and feedback on student-athlete experiences and challenges. 
 

Additional committee representation includes Big West head coaches Dan Leyson (UC Davis) on the Men’s Water Polo Committee and Todd Rogers (Cal Poly) on the Women’s Beach Volleyball Committee, and UC San Diego administrator Nick Feller on the Men’s and Women’s Fencing Committee. Most recently, Tiffany Edlin of Long Beach State was appointed to the NCAA Division I Softball Oversight Committee, beginning the term on Oct. 14, 2025. 
 

The Big West’s continued presence across NCAA committees reflects the conference’s deep commitment to collaborative governance, sport growth and enhancing the student-athlete experience. All told, at least one Big West voice is on 12 committees and two student-athlete groups with seven member-institutions and the league office seeing representatives.