ECAC Hosts Townhall On The Future Of Intercollegiate Athletics
Danbury, CT – The ECAC hosted a successful Town Hall on Friday entitled “Envisioning a Post-Power 5 Intercollegiate Athletics Structure.” Roughly fifty leaders from all three NCAA divisions gathered at The Summit in Danbury to discuss the recent dramatic changes to the industry, consider what the future may hold, and strategize about what steps might be necessary in light of likely changes coming next.
Among the thought leaders headlining the day-long, in-person discussions were Dr. Mary Beth Cooper, President of Springfield College, Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC, Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, Dan Dutcher, former Vice President of the NCAA for Division III, Sarah Wilhelmi, Senior Director of College Partnerships for the US Olympic Committee, and Steve Gladstone, former Director of Athletics at Cal and current Men’s Rowing Coach at Yale (with 14 national championships in his career). A host of other commissioners, athletic directors, and other industry professionals participated.
“The biggest takeaway for me,” said ECAC Commissioner Dan Coonan at the end of the day, “is the tremendous appetite among all these leaders from every corner of this industry for this type of examination. The national narrative pertaining to all of this is being set by Power 5 Commissioners and national broadcast companies. But the lion’s share of college athletes in all three NCAA divisions participate at schools and in sports that are not driving these changes, but they nonetheless stand to be greatly impacted. It was great to provide a forum for these important discussions. I look forward to seeing where this takes us.”
ABOUT THE ECAC
The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-four-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast. The ECAC's esports platform is growing and now totals more than sixty colleges and universities and is expanding the geographic footprint for the conference nationally. The ECAC is also sponsoring competitions and leagues involving other varsity and club sports that do not fall under the umbrella of the NCAA.
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