School athletics
FILE - UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, tries to get by Southern California forward Isaiah Mobley during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on March 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. UCLA and Southern California are planning to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference in a seismic change that could lead to another major realignment of college sports. A person who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on condition of anonymity because the schools' talks with the Big Ten have not been made public said the schools have taken steps to request an invitation to join the conference. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Conference realignment makes another seismic shift

By John Marshall Jul. 01, 2022 07:00 PM EDT

FILE - UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, tries to get by Southern California forward Isaiah Mobley during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on March 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. UCLA and Southern California are planning to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference in a seismic change that could lead to another major realignment of college sports. A person who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on condition of anonymity because the schools' talks with the Big Ten have not been made public said the schools have taken steps to request an invitation to join the conference. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Big Ten votes to add USC, UCLA as members starting in 2024

By Ralph D. Russo And Eric Olson Jun. 30, 2022 04:05 PM EDT

FILE - Alabama coach Nick Saban watches players warm up for the team's College Football Playoff championship game against Georgia on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. The first year of the athlete compensation era in college sports evolved into almost everything the NCAA didn't want when it gave the green light last summer.v“When you see Nick Saban losing his cool over recruiting, it's a sure sign that damage is being done at the highest levels of NCAA athletic competition,” University of Illinois labor law professor Michael LeRoy said, referring to the Alabama football coach's comments in May. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
One year into NIL era, fresh questions about its future

By Eric Olson Jun. 30, 2022 01:20 PM EDT

FILE - Barclays Center Chief Executive Officer Brett Yormark is shown during a press conference at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Yormark, an executive with Jay-Z's Roc Nation and former CEO of the Brooklyn Nets, was named Big 12 commissioner Wednesday, June 29, 2022, another unconventional hire by a major conference amid the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Big 12 picks Roc Nation's Brett Yormark as next commissioner

By Schuyler Dixon Jun. 29, 2022 11:37 AM EDT

FILE - The field of runners compete in the women's NCAA Division I Cross-Country Championships, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Terre Haute, Ind. The pandemic shutdown created financial pressures, particularly for Division I programs with lost revenue from the cancellation of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and uncertainty about whether football –- which largely funds schools’ abilities to offer Olympic and lower-profile sports programs –- would go forward at all. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)
Title IX: Law ensured balanced cutbacks during pandemic

By Aaron Beard Jun. 18, 2022 11:20 AM EDT

FILE - Texas players sing "The Eyes Of Texas" after defeating Kansas State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Nov. 26, 2021. Texas is one of several states that legally ban using endorsement contracts as pay for play or recruiting, but have shown no interest in questioning the deals, school officials or third-party groups that set them up. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
No angst about college athletes cashing in at 1st NIL summit

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 14, 2022 06:15 PM EDT

FILE - Miami's athletic director Blake James speaks to the news media during an NCAA football media day in Coral Gables, Fla., Aug. 9, 2013. Boston College has hired James as its third athletic director since 2017. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Former Miami AD Blake James lands at BC, promises to stay

By Jimmy Golen Jun. 02, 2022 05:46 PM EDT

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher addresses a new conference in Destin, Fla., Wednesday, June, 01, 2022. A jovial Fisher said repeatedly on Wednesday he was “moving on” from the war of words between he and his former boss that sprinkled soap-opera drama on the Southeastern Conference's spring meetings this week. (AP Photo/Ralph Russo)
It just means more: SEC weighs expanding conference schedule

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 01, 2022 07:59 PM EDT

Boston College hires Blake James as athletic director

Jun. 01, 2022 12:52 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Boston College has hired former Miami athletic director Blake James to succeed Patrick Kraft as the Eagles AD. James held the job in...

FILE - Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher speaks to reporters in Cleveland on March 12, 2020. With sports betting now legal in more than half the states and generating millions in revenue for once-apprehensive professional sports leagues, college conferences are starting to explore ways to cash in, too. The MAC was the first to jump in, selling the rights to its data and statistics to a company called Genius Sports, which will in turn sell it to sportsbooks. Steinbrecher said it is impossible to ignore the changing reality. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
College sports eye gambling money amid safeguard concerns

By Ralph D. Russo May. 26, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

FILE - At left, Alabama head coach Nick Saban yells to the sideline during the first half of Alabama's NCAA college football scrimmage, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At right, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher reacts to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” Thursday, May 19, 2022. after the Alabama coach made “despicable” comments about the Aggies using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes. Saban called out Texas A&M on Wednesday night for “buying” players. (AP Photo/File)
'We're done': A&M's Fisher fires back at 'narcissist' Saban

By Ralph D. Russo May. 19, 2022 11:42 AM EDT

Sheridan resigns as Wisconsin's inside linebackers coach

May. 13, 2022 04:37 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Bill Sheridan has resigned as Wisconsin’s inside linebackers coach while the NCAA investigates him for potential rules violations during his...

FILE - Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith answers questions during a news conference, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. The NCAA seems to have inadvertently opened the door for boosters when it comes to college athletes cashing in on their fame. The latest guidance was developed by a group of college sports administrators that included Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Keeping schools out of NIL dealings opened door for boosters

By Ralph D. Russo May. 13, 2022 01:46 PM EDT

FILE - UConn's Paige Bueckers stretches during a practice session for a college basketball game in the final round of the Women's Final Four NCAA tournament April 2, 2022, in Minneapolis. In 2019, California became the first state to pass a law allowing athletes to earn money on endorsements, autograph signings and other activities, and by July 2021, the NCAA lifted its decades-old ban. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
As leaders lobby, NCAA searches for ways to rein in boosters

By Ralph D. Russo May. 05, 2022 06:09 PM EDT

FILE - Then-Temple University athletic director Patrick Kraft speaking during a news conference in Philadelphia on Dec. 6, 2016. Penn State is working to finalize a deal with Kraft, the current Boston College athletic director, to replace the retiring Sandy Barbour and become the school’s next AD. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that the school and Kraft were closing in on an agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday, April 26, 2022, because a deal was not complete. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Penn State hires Patrick Kraft from BC as athletic director

Apr. 29, 2022 10:32 AM EDT

AP source: Penn State finalizing deal to make BC's Kraft AD

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 26, 2022 11:40 AM EDT
Penn State is working to finalize a deal with Boston College athletic director Patrick Kraft to replace the retiring Sandy Barbour and become the school’s next AD. ...

FILE - Iowa linebackers coach Seth Wallace watches from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa linebackers coach Seth Wallace has been added as a defendant in a lawsuit filed against the university and athletic department personnel by former football players alleging they were discriminated against and harassed because they are Black (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
LB coach Wallace now defendant in ex-Iowa players' lawsuit

Apr. 19, 2022 04:16 PM EDT

FILE - Then-Ohio State receivers coach Stan Drayton calls out to players during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 16, 2011. New Temple coach Stan Drayton is one of 15 Black head coaches currently set to start next season at 131 FBS schools. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam, File)
Temple, Maryland rare D-I schools with top Black leadership

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 15, 2022 01:22 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 17, 2017, file photo, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby speaks to reporters during the Big 12 NCAA college football media day in Frisco, Texas. Bowlsby said Tuesday, April 5, 2022, that he will step away from his role as Big 12 commissioner later this year after a decade in that job. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Big 12 commish Bowlsby stepping away from role this year

By Stephen Hawkins Apr. 05, 2022 04:55 PM EDT

Baylor, AD Mack Rhoades agree on 10-year contract extension

Apr. 04, 2022 07:12 PM EDT
WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor announced a 10-year contract extension for athletic director Mack Rhoades on Monday, saying the deal would allow him to “complete his...