ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference Board of Directors recently elected its 2023-24 Executive Committee and convened its first official board meeting in the Conference’s new headquarters in Arlington earlier this month.
Highlighting the proceedings was the implementation of a Non-Division I Game Policy in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball. The Board unanimously affirmed the policy to cap WAC member basketball programs to a maximum of two (2) non-Division I nonconference opponents during the 2023-24 season, with the limit being dropped to a maximum of one (1) such nonconference opponent for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Board approved the NCAA Transformation Committee’s recommendation for the immediate integration of student-athletes that serve as Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives into all Conference operating committees. The integration will include an application and interview process to provide professional development opportunities and student-athlete leadership groups focused on enhancing basketball and football student-athlete experiences.
Also discussed was an expanded plan for NCAA unit distribution to Conference institutions that incentivizes performance-based distribution, along with the Board approving the Conference utilizing the NCAA video review experimental rule at the 2023 WAC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships only. Dates for the 2024 WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships were also modified for the event to take place from Monday, February 19 through Wednesday, February 21 of next year.
A number of future WAC championship sites were approved for the 2024-25 academic year, including: the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships at The Golf Club at Chapparal Pines in Payson, Arizona; the 2024 Swimming & Diving Championships (previous host in 2023) returning to the Pharr Natatorium in Pharr, co-hosted by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; the 2025 Tennis Championships (previous host in 2023) returning to the Arlington Tennis Center in Arlington, co-hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington; the 2025 Men’s Golf Championship remaining in the state of Texas at The Clubs at Kingwood in Kingwood; and the 2025 Women’s Golf Championship (previous host in 2015) returning to Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
California Baptist University President Dr. Ron Ellis will serve as Chair of the Executive Committee, and Utah Tech University President Dr. Richard Williams was elected as Vice Chair. Utah Valley University President Dr. Astrid Tuminez will remain on the Executive Committee as Past Chair. Stephen F. Austin University Interim President Gina Oglesbee was appointed to the Finance Committee to replace retiring SFA President Steve Westbrook, and Tarleton State University President Dr. James Hurley was appointed to the Membership Committee.
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