Good morning to all! What a great week in The Big West!
Over the past two weeks in NCAA Division I Championships, The Big West had FOUR Teams in THREE Final Fours, TWO student-athletes selected as “NCAA Elite 90” recipients and ONE National Champion.
With great national success in many Olympic sports, the song choice this week is from Whitney Houston – “One Moment in Time” to honor our amazing student-athletes.
Let’s get right to The Bold Type.
CONGRATULATIONS!
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To Long Beach State men’s volleyball, who beat UCLA on Monday evening in Columbus, Ohio to win the NCAA National Championship! Read more >>>
Here is a photo from the Salute to Champions parade in Long Beach with a great look at the trophy:
- To Big West champions Cal State Fullerton, who finished in a tie for 28th place at the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships, in their first-ever appearance and the first for The Big West since 2015. Big West individual medalist Kaitlyn Zermeno Smith led the way, finishing two strokes away from making today’s cut. Read more >>>
- To Big West champions UC Santa Barbara who staved off elimination twice in the UCLA regionals, advancing to the regional final against the host Bruins on Sunday night. The Gauchos secured its first two NCAA Championship wins in program history on Saturday with a pair of thrilling extra-inning victories versus Arizona State, and (RV) San Diego State, 4-3 (10 inn.) and 7-5, (8 inn.), respectively. Read more >>>
- To our 2025 Big West Track & Field Championships victors, the Cal Poly men and UC Irvine women! The Mustangs went back-to-back for the title, with the Anteaters claiming their first-ever crown. Read more >>>
- To Cal State Fullerton’s Ava Arce, CSUN’s Tiara Westbrook and UC Santa Barbara’s Malaya Johnson who earned NFCA honors! Read more >>>
- To UC San Diego women’s water polo student-athlete Kyla Bruhn, who was appointed as a member of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee! Her term of service on the committee will begin June 1, 2025, and continue through May 31, 2027.
- To Big West Golfer of the Year Charlie Forster's whose Top-10 Finish Highlighted Big West Participants at the NCAA Men’s Golf Regionals. Read more >>>
- To our 12 Big West tennis student-athletes awarded CSC Academic All-District honors! Read more >>>
- To the Big 12, who is joining our Women's Volleyball Western Officiating Consortium, the W5! (Read more >>>)
- To UC Irvine baseball who is currently ranked!
- 12th by D1Baseball
- 13th by NCBWA
- 12th by Perfect Game
- 12th by Baseball America
- 12th by USA Today Coaches
- Also congratulations to Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara and Hawai‘i baseball programs who are also receiving votes in national polls!
And, to our tremendious student-athletes recognized as Big West Players of the Week!
- Baseball - Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara (pitcher); Blake Penso, UC Irvine (field player)
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Track & Field - Aidan McCarthy, Cal Poly (men’s track); Tom Richardson, Cal State Bakersfield (men’s field); Melisse Djomby Enyawe, Cal Poly (women’s track)
PLAY BALL!
To UC Irvine baseball, the 2025 Big West regular-season champions!
First pitch of the 2025 Big West Baseball Championship, presented by Ontario International Airport is set for Wednesday at noon when the five-team field takes to the diamond at Goodwin Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. Read more on the full bracket here >>>
VIDEO: BOLD BREAK WITH ANDY SYTHE
Andy Sythe’s legacy as the head coach of the Long Beach State’s track and field team extends far beyond the numerous awards and accolades accumulated throughout a 35-year career, it’s about a legacy of excellence. Read more >>>
BOLDLY MAKING NATIONAL NEWS
Last week’s edition of The Bold Type made national headlines due to thoughts shared on the NCAA’s Division I proposed future governance structure. On Wednesday, I was on “The Big Mountain” podcast to discuss the “power consolidation”, membership changes and The Big West in general. If you enjoy podcasts, have a listen. (LINK)
I appreciate each of you that took the opportunity to read this weekly blog, not only to recognize the success of The Big West and more importantly our student-athletes, but also to better understand the serious concern expressed on the proposed future governance structure of NCAA Division I. I received numerous positive comments from conferences and institutions across the country. My response to them was if their positions are not voiced or concerns expressed, they are willing to accept what is proposed and the consequences associated for the future.
It is being proposed that four highest financially-resourced conferences totaling 68 institutions will have the weighted voting and representation to determine the future for the remaining 28 conferences and 296 NCAA Division I institutions. Let that sink in.
I encourage you to send your feedback to the NCAA via the form provided by the NCAA.
Why should The Big West not push for full representation within the NCAA? The NCAA does not manage FBS football or the College Football Playoff, but the NCAA continues to structure their governance system due to College Football Playoff and FBS broadcast football revenues and the success it generates.
Here was the national write-up: Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly comments on the new governance model proposed by the NCAA last week and explains: “The CCA-22 commissioners were presented with the draft model on Monday afternoon, but were told not to share the model outside of the presentation. If adopted as presented, it will hand unchecked control of the Division I governance process to four conferences: the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. These leagues would gain a 65% weighted voting bloc on NCAA committees—an insurmountable majority that effectively silences the voices of the rest of Division I, including conferences like The Big West. In short: a structure in which a few decide for all. This is not shared governance. This is consolidation of power by the very conferences, institutions and leadership that helped drive the NCAA into its current legal and financial crisis. And now, they seek to rewrite the rules to insulate themselves from accountability, while expecting others to share the financial burden of settlement costs from cases like House v. NCAA. Let’s be bold and honest: the only thing holding Division I together right now is a legal settlement. NCAA President Charlie Baker has said as much—that if the A4 conferences walk away, they alone would be responsible for the full financial cost of the House settlement. Rather than risk that, this proposal looks like an effort to force out those of us who still believe in education, access, parity, and opportunity for student-athletes across all institutions—not just the richest ones. And once governance is centralized, what’s to stop them from restricting national championship access? From changing scholarship rules in ways that disadvantage mid-majors? … Absolutely nothing. This isn’t bold leadership. Its power consolidation masquerading as progress. The Big West will not stand by silently. … In the weeks ahead, The Big West will work with our peer conferences to demand a better model—one that respects the diversity of Division I and honors the values of equity, education, and competition.” More from Butterly. (link)
On Thursday, Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross submitted a detailed assessment of the NCAA's proposed DI governance restructuring following the working group’s request for member feedback. Commissioner Michael Cross is sharing this document publicly to foster dialogue among conference leaders, athletic directors, and university presidents as the reform process moves forward (link); Full assessment. (link)
As the quote states, “Fate Loves the Fearless” - Credited to James Russell Lowell. Or, let me close with this one attributed to many - “History is made by those who show up”.
UPDATES ON WORK ON COLLEGIATE COMMISSIONER'S ASSOCIATION OFFICIATING WORKING GROUP
For the past few years, I have served as the Division I representative on this working group. It started as a DIII initiative where I was the DI rep, and we have expanded the group to involve the NCAA and three commissioners each from DI, DII and DIII. A few interesting stats I want to share:
I encourage anyone interesting in officiating to visit www.SayYesToOfficiating.com. There are many benefits to becoming an official, including getting in or staying in shape, giving back to your favorite sport and generating new lifelong friendships.
MEDIA REPORTS ON NCAA DIVISION I ATHLETICS AND LEGAL ISSUES
- The NCAA is considering removing its prohibition on betting on professional sports, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde, who explains that if the DI Council supports the idea, it could be fast-tracked into existence by late June. (link)
- More from NCAA President Charlie Baker at the ACC spring meetings on President Donald Trump’s college sports commission: "I think the fact that there's an interest on the executive side on this, I think it speaks to the fact that everybody is paying a lot of attention right now to what's going on in college sports. I'm up for anything that can help us get somewhere." (link)
- House settlement plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Berman joins Tulane Sports Law Director Gabe Feldman to discuss the revised House settlement and explains that allowing designated student-athletes to be grandfathered in and not count against roster limits for the duration of their eligibility was done because “we just wanted to make sure that we went overboard to satisfy the judge. (link)
- In a presentation to the University of California Board Regents’ special committee on athletics, UCLA AD Martin Jarmond said Big Ten travel "was not an issue" per exit interviews with athletes. Bruins reported $119M in revenue and $171M in expenses in FY24. (link)
- Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reports that “NIL Go” is being distributed to schools, including a two-page memo that details concepts, “much of what has been reported but now formalized in writing to school administrators.” The memo outlines the purpose of NIL Go along with its processes, framework, launch timeline, cost considerations and more. (link)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future." - Deepak Chopra
LET’S CLOSE OUT!
Good luck to our teams continuing to compete this week! Let’s continue to ride the momentum of success our teams and student-athletes have had this season.
Please take care of those that take care of you and our student-athletes, and take care of yourself! Thank you.
Dan