| Stepping Up for College Soccer (September 2005) |
By Schellas Hyndman
On August 1, the NSCAA took a major step forward in the level of service it provides to its college membership. That is the day when Patrick L. Britz assumed the duties of the first Division I Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Programs Director in the national office.
This position was created to give intercollegiate soccer coaches a full-time advocate for the game. In the past, the NSCAA’s Division I representatives have been tasked with monitoring NCAA activities and legislation and serving as a communication channel between coaches and the NCAA. It is a position I held for two years, and other notable college coaches have served in this capacity as well, including the likes of John Rennie of Duke University and Jerry Yeagley of Indiana University. The current men’s Division I representative is Sasho Cirovski of the University of Maryland, while Bill Steffen has represented the women’s side of the game.
One thing these representatives had in common was that they were full-time coaches. As passionate as they have been for the game, their primary concern was ensuring that their teams were prepared for their competitions. With only so many hours in the day, it has become more difficult to give the time and energy necessary to successfully fill the duties of being the Division I representative. The position became more reactive, responding to situations that arose rather than being out front as a leader and guiding the continued growth of intercollegiate soccer.
Our goal has been to develop soccer into the third major sport on the intercollegiate landscape behind the more traditional American sports of football and basketball. To do that, it was clear that we needed someone who could work proactively on our behalf to influence the course of change rather than reacting to the actions and agendas of others. That’s what we had in mind when Sasho came to the NSCAA Executive Committee meeting last September, where he made an impassioned plea to create this full-time position.
The position is funded through an increase in the College Services membership fee for Division I schools. Each team is now asked to pay an additional $250 on top of the regular College Services fee of $150. The response to this increase has been good, but not the total participation that we need to fully fund this effort. The NSCAA has stepped forward to cover shortfalls for the near term, but it is imperative that we have the complete support of all Division I schools if we are to succeed.
A select group of Division I coaches gathered in Kansas City June 17 and 18 to interview the five finalists selected from a pool of 140 applicants. The search committee included women’s coaches Peter Albright of the University of Richmond, Becky Burleigh of the University of Florida, Anson Dorrance of the University of North Carolina and Janet Rayfield of the University of Illinois. Men’s coaches were represented by myself, Sasho, Bret Simon of Stanford University and Brian Tompkins of Yale University. NSCAA Executive Director Jim Sheldon also served on the committee.
As the committee weighed the responses of the five finalists, we kept our expectations for the position in mind. The areas we were looking for experience and expertise in included:
- Legislation – Work on behalf of Division I coaches with the NCAA to initiate beneficial legislation and address legislation that could be harmful to the sport.
- Championships – Assist in promoting the Men’s and Women’s College Cups.
- Officiating – Serve as a liaison with National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.
- Marketing – Assist in the marketing and promotion of Division I soccer, including broader media coverage (e.g., television coverage).
- Communication – Communicate regularly and frequently with Division I coaches regarding these responsibilities and relevant topics.
- Internal liaison – Serve as staff liaison to the NSCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Committees. Report to the NSCAA Board of Directors regarding Division I issues.
- External liaison – Serve as staff liaison to NISOA, NCAA (championships, rules, governance) and professional leagues within the context of issues affecting Division I intercollegiate soccer.
When it came time for the committee to deliberate, it was clear that Pat Britz was the person for the job. The senior associate athletics director for compliance and administration at Texas Tech University, he offered a unique skill set that will successfully meet the challenges of this position.
Earlier I said that Pat’s hire will raise the level of service the NSCAA provides its college members. After reading this far, you’re probably thinking that all the benefits from this position will flow to Division I programs. That’s not the case. By working to effect change in rules and NCAA legislation, Pat’s efforts will impact all of college soccer. Additionally, NCAA Division II and III programs can expect more support from a consultant that has been under retainer to the NSCAA in recent years. Chuck Smrt of The Compliance Group, a former NCAA staff member, will continue to monitor NCAA legislation that impact Division II and Division III, providing insight and guidance on strategies to address change.
I hope you will join me in welcoming Pat to the NSCAA family, and I urge all Division I programs to step up and support this effort. If you are unsure of whether or not your program has paid the additional fee to support the position, please check the College Services section of NSCAA.com or call the national office.
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