Stony Brook, N.Y. -

 

au·ton·o·my
noun

• the state of existing or acting separately from others
• the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself 

On August 7, 2014, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a measure providing schools in five conferences – the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC – with the ability to introduce policy changes for themselves without involvement from the other 27 Division I conferences. Although the concept of self-governance for the five major conferences had been discussed for several months, the news that it was now a reality meant that it was a new day for all of us.

What were the ramifications for Stony Brook and the schools that belong to the other 27 Division I conferences? Moving forward, it meant that they could choose whether or not to adopt legislation that was passed by the “Autonomy 5.” New rules that were passed by the autonomous conferences included the ability to provide a cost of attendance stipend and unlimited meals to student-athletes. Schools quickly scrambled to decide what they would adopt and, more importantly, how to pay for it.

Many have derided the new self-governance of the five conferences because of the perceived chasm between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” In 2014 – the year that “autonomy” became a part of the Division I vernacular – I lived on both sides of the conversation after moving to Stony Brook from Oregon State, a member of the Pac-12. Even while I was at Oregon State, there were discussions about the budget impact of providing a cost of attendance stipend to all scholarship student-athletes. (As a side note, the financial aid office of each school determines the dollar figure that equates to cost of attendance at their respective institution. At Stony Brook, the cost of attendance is around $1,900).

As I previously mentioned, schools are given the freedom to adopt the new policies. For the schools in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC, there really is no choice. If one school, for example, elects not to provide the cost of attendance stipend it will negatively impact them in recruiting.



At Stony Brook, we have to decide what is best for us in this dynamic environment. We made the decision to provide cost of attendance stipends for men’s and women’s basketball beginning in the 2016-17 academic year, becoming the only America East school to do so. Will this extra stipend give us a recruiting advantage? Although it certainly doesn’t hurt, I am not naïve in thinking that an extra $1,900 a year will tip the scales one way or another for a recruit. I do, however, believe that anything that we can do to enhance the student-athlete experience is a step in the right direction.

The topic of autonomy continued this past Monday when the America East Presidents and Athletic Directors met in Boston. We were joined by NCAA President Mark Emmert, who has steered the organization through a tidal wave of change. As he shared with us on Monday, the money that the five major conferences receive through existing television contracts, apparel deals, donations and ticket sales (most of which is driven by football) is astronomical. Schools in the SEC, for example, receive a whopping $30 million annually as part of its contract with ESPN. For schools like Stony Brook to thrive in the current environment, we can accept the fact that we can’t compete with the five major conferences or we can raise our expectations and be smarter about how we operate our business. My expectation is that we will compete with anyone but must continue to pursue new revenue streams that will enable us to maximize our success.

Although there are many differences among the 32 conferences, the one common bond is also the most lucrative. The NCAA recently extended its agreement with CBS and Turner to broadcast the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament through the year 2032. With an average annual payout of $1.1 billion, the NCAA’s premier event is one reason that – in the eyes of President Emmert – the Division I schools are all incentivized to work together and realize that despite our differences there is a great deal that we have in common.



The immediate future revolves around issues such as student-athlete time demands, LGBT rights and diversity among coaches and senior leadership positions. Yes, the road ahead is paved with challenges but also opportunities for Stony Brook. I am confident that we will navigate it with eyes wide open and expectations held high.

Together We Transform! 


Warm regards,



Shawn