Conference changes

[ronk]

 Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

[CNU85]

Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

https://www.hartford.edu/about/campus-leadership/office-president/_files/Hartford-Feasibility-Study_CarrSports.pdf

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

https://www.hartford.edu/about/campus-leadership/office-president/_files/Hartford-Feasibility-Study_CarrSports.pdf

Very strong language there - a move to d3 is the only longterm viable option for Hartford.  Not even a "best of available options" caveat.  Also, is the a similar d3 school in New England that generates $600,000 in revenue outside student fees?  That seems very optimistic to me.  Maybe I'm just wildly uninformed about ticket sales and sponsorship value?

[ronk]

Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

https://www.hartford.edu/about/campus-leadership/office-president/_files/Hartford-Feasibility-Study_CarrSports.pdf

Nice study for anyone contemplating a move to/from the LEC, CCC, and/or the NEWMAC, whether D1 or D3.

[Gregory Sager]

Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

It wouldn't surprise me if Hartford's president, Gregory Woodward, is a backer of this proposal, as he has strong D3 ties. He was first a dean and then provost at Ithaca (which is also where he earned his master's degree), and he served as the president of Carthage before taking the position at Hartford.

[WUPHF]

A friend of mine used to be the financial advisor to the provost at the University of Hartford. 

They have been seriously thinking about major changes to varsity athletics for at least 20 years.

Interestingly, the Hartford president played Division I soccer at the University of Connecticut.

[Caz Bombers]

Hartford said to be considering moving to D3 from D1.

It wouldn't surprise me if Hartford's president, Gregory Woodward, is a backer of this proposal, as he has strong D3 ties. He was first a dean and then provost at Ithaca (which is also where he earned his master's degree), and he served as the president of Carthage before taking the position at Hartford.

It's pretty much Woodward's solo project, as a matter of fact. It and he have quickly become extremely unpopular in the campus community and with Connecticut media.

Honestly, I don't think D3 is the right fit for the University of Hartford. Very short-sighted of them not to consider Division II and the Northeast 10 Conference which contains almost all similar size/scope schools. Staying D1 and seeking an invitation to switch from America East to MAAC would also be a better idea.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

They looked at the MAAC. It's in the report. The bottom line seems to be: are you prepared to pay an extra $6-9m per year to stay d1?  D2 isn't going cost much less.  You're going to be losing money no matter where you are, the question is just about how much.

[gordonmann]

Bump

"Presumptive" Provisional Pipeline for 2021-22
*4th year provisional members (full membership fall 2022): SUNY-Delhi
*3rd year provisional members (full membership fall 2023): Pratt, University of St Thomas (Texas), Mississippi University for Women
2nd year provisional members (full membership fall 2024): Bob Jones, Warren Wilson
1st year provisional members: Asbury
Exploratory: Johnson & Wales (Charlotte)

* Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Becker is closing, removed from NECC
Wesley athletic programs discontinued in merger with Delaware State, leaves AEC

Conference Changes Starting in 2021-2022
Emory & Henry leaves ODAC for Division II (pending final NCAA DII Membership Committee approval)
Iowa Wesleyan leaves SLIAC and NCAA for NAIA
Louisiana College leaves ASC and NCAA for NAIA
Mary Baldwin will add men's program, begin play in the USA South
Southern Virginia leaves the CAC for the USA South
St. Mary's (Md.) leaves the CAC for the NEAC
St. Norbert leaves the MWC for the NACC
St. Thomas involuntarily removed from MIAC, will join Division I (Summit League)
St. Scholastica leaves the UMAC for the MIAC

Conference Changes Starting in 2022-2023
Averett leaves the USAC for the ODAC
Elms leaves the NECC for the GNAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Elms is moving early.  I fixed it.

"Presumptive" Provisional Pipeline for 2021-22
*4th year provisional members (full membership fall 2022): SUNY-Delhi
*3rd year provisional members (full membership fall 2023): Pratt, University of St Thomas (Texas), Mississippi University for Women
2nd year provisional members (full membership fall 2024): Bob Jones, Warren Wilson
1st year provisional members: Asbury
Exploratory: Johnson & Wales (Charlotte)

* Games against Year 3 and 4 provisional members count the same as games against full-members for regional-ranking and tournament selection purposes

Becker is closing, removed from NECC
Wesley athletic programs discontinued in merger with Delaware State, leaves AEC

Conference Changes Starting in 2021-2022
Elms leaves the NECC for the GNAC
Emory & Henry leaves ODAC for Division II (pending final NCAA DII Membership Committee approval)
Iowa Wesleyan leaves SLIAC and NCAA for NAIA
Louisiana College leaves ASC and NCAA for NAIA
Mary Baldwin will add men's program, begin play in the USA South
Southern Virginia leaves the CAC for the USA South
St. Mary's (Md.) leaves the CAC for the NEAC
St. Norbert leaves the MWC for the NACC
St. Thomas involuntarily removed from MIAC, will join Division I (Summit League)
St. Scholastica leaves the UMAC for the MIAC

Conference Changes Starting in 2022-2023
Averett leaves the USAC for the ODAC

[Inkblot]

Well, there it is. https://twitter.com/jeffjacobs123/status/1390469970304372740

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

UHart already have a transition page

They won't file their intent until January 2022.
Their plan is full D3 member for the 25-26 season.

I'm a little unclear on the provisional pipeline, they plan to stay D1 for the next two seasons (obviously next year since they haven't filed yet but 22-23 as well) then only 2 years of provisional pipeline?

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

This little tidbit caught my attention

How much money will UHart save because of this decision?
The decision to move to DIII intercollegiate athletics is to align the University's mission and goals to their athletic offerings. For that reason, this decision isn't based in savings and instead is focused on opportunities for more athletic and wellness opportunities for all students.

Seems like financials were somewhat important in the feasibility study

Financially, one of the primary goals of the Task Force report is to reduce Athletics' costs and maintain financial stability.

Three of the "six overarching assumptions" were money based.

• UHart will implement a substantial reduction in institutional funding for Athletics seeking a more financially self-sustainable Athletics model. The current Division I funding model is not sustainable.
• Athletics' contribution to UHart's enrollment management goals will include generating a significant increase in
net tuition revenues from student-athlete enrollment. Present student-athlete net tuition revenues are
negligible.
• Athletics' expenses, along with UHart's student-athlete financial aid discount rate (around 94%), are inconsistent
with UHart's institutional size and operating capacity, and run significantly counter to the University's general
student population discount rate.

I don't have a problem with them moving for financial reasons (honestly more schools should at least consider it), but don't act like it wasn't a factor.

[y_jack_lok]

On the question of how much Hartford will save by moving to D3, this ESPN article says: "Last month, a University of Hartford athletics feasibility study, commissioned by school president Gregory Woodward and conducted by the consulting firm CarrSports, was made public. The study indicated the school would save $9.2 million per year by going from Division I to Division III."

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31402209/hartford-athletics-transitioning-division-division-iii

[gordonmann]

We called attention to the same discord between the University's statement that this isn't a financial decision and the study's focus on financial matters.

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2021/05/hartford-heading-toward-d3