One of the most eventful years in recent history also turned out to be one of our busiest years since Collegiate Consulting’s formation in 2005. As college athletics and the rest of the world shut down due to COVID-19, our firm ramped-up working on 52 athletic projects during 2020.
Collegiate Consulting worked with an international institution; a Division II conference, two Division I conferences, two Division III institutions, five NAIA institutions, 18 Division II institutions and 23 Division I institutions.
Highlights of the types of projects include seven strategic plan projects including Milligan, Tarleton State, Utah Valley and USC Upstate. Our firm completed a record seven Division I Feasibility Studies, culminated by Bellarmine, Dixie State and Tarleton State applying for Division I membership in June 2020.
Our 16 conference realignment studies, in addition to our conference expansion projects, have led to 10 institutions securing invitations to new conferences.
In addition, Collegiate Consulting has assisted with:
Director of Athletics search
Facility Assessment
Two Conference Membership Expansion projects
Two Operational Reviews
Two Reclassification Studies
Four Multi-divisional Compliance Reviews
Four Sport Sponsorship Assessment Studies
Of the 32 Division I conferences, Collegiate Consulting worked directly with 16, through member-institutions or conference projects. Within Division II, our firm’s projects, through either member-institutions or conferences, involved collaboration with 14-of-24 Division II conferences.
Heading into 2021, Collegiate Consulting will begin five new projects in January, including conference realignment, two reclassification studies and a sport sponsorship assessment.
Additional Projects
West Georgia AD Search
Over the last month, we have had more than 100 applicants for the University of West Georgia Director of Athletics search. This has been one of the most-qualified applicant pools we have seen in one of our searches.
If you are interested in applying for the position, visit our website for more information.
If you have a position you need to fill and are looking to conduct a search, please click here.
Milligan University Strategic Plan
During the last few days of 2021, Milligan University began implementing our Strategic Plan. This was one of seven strategic plans that we worked on in 2020.
Fisk University Division II Feasibility Study
We recently finalized Fisk University’s Division II Feasibility Study. Fisk is eyeing the SIAC, and if they decide to move forward with the process, the application deadline is February 1.
Division II to Division I Success
Over the last three years, Collegiate Consulting has completed 14 Division II-to-Division I Feasibility Studies. Of these studies, half have become members of NCAA Division I, and the remaining four are considering their options.
Two years ago, we worked with Tarleton State, Bellarmine and Dixie State to complete their Division I Feasibility Studies, as well as their DI Athletics Strategic Plan. Dixie State and Tarleton State are now members of the WAC and will be involved in the upcoming FCS league launching in 2022. Bellarmine is currently participating in its first year of ASUN competition.
In addition, over the previous years, we have assisted the following schools to complete their Feasibility Studies:
UMass Lowell – American East Conference
North Alabama – ASUN
Cal Baptist – Western Athletic Conference
Merrimack – Northeast Conference
Grand Canyon University – Western Athletic Conference
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville – Ohio Valley Conference
Northern Kentucky University – Horizon League
Since the Division I moratorium was lifted in 2007, Collegiate Consulting has completed 30+ Division I Feasibility Studies. In just this past month, we started two new DII-to-DI studies and anticipate having those completed by the end of February, with the new membership application due to the NCAA on June 1, 2021, for any institutions wishing to reclassify.
