The USOC is "seeking applicants for a new job: director of collegiate partnerships," and the position will entail "working with national sports governing bodies and the NCAA 'to develop actionable plans to reduce expenses associated with sponsoring sports' while maintaining quality experiences for college athletes," according to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. The new hire will be "asked to coordinate the engagement of national governing bodies 'in all NCAA championships, including signage and sponsorship agreements' and to develop metrics and data to determine the impact of various initiatives 'to better understand future direction and (return on investment) for the NGBs and the USOC." USOC Chief of Sport Performance Alan Ashley said that he "wants someone in the job" early in '16. Berkowitz noted D-I schools -- "even some in the five power conferences -- have been struggling financially and putting increasing resources into the high-profile sports of football, men's basketball and women's basketball, especially now that athletic scholarships can cover the full cost of attendance." There have been "discussions among some college presidents about the prospect of reducing from 14 the number of sports a school must sponsor" in order to be a D-I member. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, a former USOC BOD member, said, "I'm not advocating it and I'm not predicting it, but you don't have to have too much imagination to see a day down the road where you could have football and men's basketball and eight women's sports, and that would be your varsity sports program. I think higher-ed would be poorer for that. ... Beyond that, if those sports went away on college campuses -- you know, track and field and swimming and gymnastics and wrestling -- I think our international efforts and our Olympic efforts would be irreparably damaged" (USATODAY.com, 11/12).
