I have long contended that coaches at the lower collegiate divisions often expend just as much time and energy as their upper-class counterparts. And perhaps somewhat surprisingly, many of these coaches emanate from non-core sports such as tennis, volleyball, swimming, track, and golf. Even when the positions are of a part-time nature, I have seen coaches give enormous commitments to their respective schools.

As a former coach of non-core sports teams at the NCAA Divison I and III levels, plus having consulted and worked with scores of coaches, I bring a unique outlook to this topic. Additionally, having been a Division I athlete gives me further clarity from a player’s perspective.

What I have seen firsthand is how coaches do an excellent job of adapting to whatever circumstances they find themselves in. Even when coaches are faced with limited resources, they find a way to get the job done. However, there are significant contrasts among the three divisions which affect how coaches operate.

One critical area of collegiate athletics where the differences are accentuated is recruiting. Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships, while Division III schools do not. Coaches at larger schools can target their prospects earlier and have the funds to locate the best student-athletes suitable for their respective programs. At smaller institutions, where budgets are more limited, coaches often have to find cost-efficient ways to recruit.

Especially at the smaller Division III schools with non-core sports, coaches need to sometimes go back to the bare basics when recruiting players. One example is finding qualified student-athletes within the school. This can be accomplished by sending out mass emails to students, placing signs in strategic locations, attending student orientation sessions, and placing notices in the school newspaper.

With non-core sports, coaches generally realize that their teams are not on the same echelon as football, basketball, and baseball. Coaches often have to work with their teams’ being less of a priority within the athletic department. In the Division III classification, where there are fewer teams at a school, the lack of enthusiasm toward non-core sports can be especially frustrating for coaches.

I was fortunate that during my coaching career, I had a few athletic directors who were avid tennis fans, and very supportive of my teams. Terry Small was one athletic director, who always cared about not only our program but every team in the sports department. Another leader, the late Dr. Harold Merritt, came to a number of our matches. A common question he would ask me was, “What is the best we can do for your team?” Unfortunately, this type of support is not the case for many non-core sports programs.  

A key to coaching at any of the three NCAA divisions is knowing the type of athlete you are working with. The student-athlete on a Division I golf team, for example, will be different than one from Division III. At the top level, he likely will be on scholarship, with an impressive resume. The individual also might have aspirations of a golf career after college. 

On the other hand, an athlete on a Division III non-core sports team, even though an accomplished competitor, likely plays the sport for enjoyment, with goals considerably more modest. These student-athletes, often have to fit the team into their busy work, or extracurricular activities.

When coaching my Division III team, I operated far differently than when I was at Division I. Practices were shorter, and I usually worked around the players’ availability. I remember telling the players that even though attendance at practices was important, the actual matches against other schools were the main priority.

I also worked more on a player’s fundamentals when coaching Division III teams, as opposed to the upper levels. Their skills were not as refined, therefore more teaching was required.

As unlikely as it seems, there are also numerous similarities in coaching at the separate divisions. One area of commonality is that the competitive fire is in all athletes regardless of level. It is always more pleasurable to coach an athlete when they are passionate about an activity.

When I was coaching at a Division III school, and looking to hire an assistant, the athletic director searching would ask the applicants, “How important is winning to you?” The only acceptable reply according to him was that “winning was of the utmost importance.” Coaches always need to be aware that results matter, regardless of the level.

Another similarity is there are many aspects of the daily job that are comparable, except at the higher levels, everything is intensified. This pertains to practices, matches, time commitments, travel, and other facets of the program. Plus, players in the three divisions are all student-athletes, with academics at the forefront.

» ALSO SEE: Q&A.D. with MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl

NCAA Division II programs are sometimes thought of as being in the middle of the other two levels with their operating guidelines. Coaches often like the balance that Division II athletics offers compared to the other two divisions. There is the benefit of having scholarships to offer, without the added pressure of being at the top echelon. 

At each collegiate division, the coach has to be aware of NCAA rules about recruiting, practices, and academic eligibility. These directives vary depending on the division, as well as the sport. For example, non-core sports will have parameters specific to them, as opposed to football programs. 

Therefore, while coaching at the three division ranks might seem miles apart, there are certainly enough commonalities also. And the bond that ties these coaches together is the passion they have for their respective teams, whatever that level might be.

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Track Maintenance: Best Practices
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make all the difference with maintenance. According to Lee Narozanick of American Athletic Track & Turf, it’s what you don’t do that can help the most.

“Keeping lawnmowers and weed whackers away from the edges of the track and the runways,” notes Narozanick. “Also, just keeping the track – and the field events – free of debris is a huge help.”

Because many tracks encircle athletic fields, maintenance personnel often mistakenly drive heavy equipment, such as mowers (for natural grass fields) or turf cleaners (for synthetic surfaces) over the track to access the fields.

“Don’t run vehicles on the track,” says Narozanick. “Cover the surface first.”

Many track installers advise placing mats and/or boards down and driving equipment slowly over this to get to and from the field. The more layers between tires and track, the better.

Another mistake is trying to place anything other than competition-specific equipment on the track. Starting blocks and hurdles, for example, are acceptable. Chairs, tables, benches, or anything else is not.

Walk around the track regularly and look for areas of wear, including places where markings may look faint, where surfacing may be damaged or loose, or even areas where the track appears to rise or fall. Problems don’t get better with time, so if minor repairs aren’t working, it’s time to get expert help.

“Owners and managers should always call the professionals,” says Narozanick. “Remember that you absolutely need to use an experienced contractor or other professional when repairing a running track as many tolerances must be kept in order to have the track able to host the required level of competition.”

ASBA offers two publications, Running Tracks: Construction and Maintenance Manual, and Sports Fields: Construction & Maintenance Manual, which provide a great deal of information presented in a user-friendly fashion.

Court Maintenance: Best Practices
Those with outdoor courts – tennis, basketball, or pickleball – already know that staying on top of maintenance means staying just a few steps ahead of the curve.

“Owners should be doing visual inspections of all courts throughout the year,” says Donald Pierson of Courts Unlimited LLC. “At the beginning of spring and at the end of the season, the court should be looked over thoroughly. In a perfect world, it should be inspected yearly but realistically, a professional should be coming by every two to three years or at the first sight of any surface issues.”

Of course, notes Brackett Vaughan of Tennis Courts, Inc., nobody is going to know about those surface issues unless a regular inspection is conducted.

“Coaches should take notice on a daily basis when in use. I would suggest checking periodically during the warmer months. Once the weather warms and stabilizes, I would do a court inspection for cracks or failures in previous repairs. It’s when the weather temperature changes a large amount in a short period of time that courts seem to be stressed the most.”

Keep courts free of debris, including leaves, twigs, and so forth, since this can stain the surface if left long enough.

“If courts are close to trees and have a black-looking moldy surface, we recommend having the courts soft-washed by a professional,” says Vaughan. “This cleans the court without pressure that could damage the playing surface.”

If used regularly, a broom or a leaf blower may be sufficient to keep debris from collecting. If there are stains, or if debris does not seem to be moving, call the court contractor for advice, since some surfaces may be damaged by treatments that are too vigorous.

“Please don’t try to power-wash the courts yourself,” adds Pierson.

Another way to cut down marks on the surface of a basketball, pickleball, or tennis court is to post signage noting that only court shoes with non-marking soles may be worn. However, the ability to reinforce this will be dependent upon the amount of supervision courts receive.

If you spot cracks in your court, the best course of action is to take photos of them and send them to your court contractor. Trying to paint over or fill in cracks with a DIY method can do far more harm than good.

“I have seen many owners try to fill/seal cracks, resurface, and paint their courts,” says Pierson. “Trust me, it never turns out well and it becomes a much more expensive fix. When someone has to fix a DIY job, it can be far more expensive.”

Something else to consider: To those without knowledge of asphalt and concrete, cracks look like, well, cracks. In reality, though, some can be minor while others can signify a serious underlying problem. In every case, it is better to engage someone with expertise early.

» ALSO SEE: Q&A.D. with MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl

Of course, nothing can beat regular court inspections, so in this case, make your students stewards of the court. Whether playing basketball, tennis, or pickleball (or really, any other sport on a hard surface), it’s the users who will see the court day in and day out, and who will notice problems, such as cracks, discoloration, uneven spots, etc. Post signage with contact information (a number to text or call, an e-mail, etc.) and encourage students to reach out if they see anything that concerns them.

ASBA offers three publications, Tennis Courts: Construction and Maintenance Manual, Courts & Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance Manual, and Pickleball Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual, all of which provide a great deal of information presented in a user-friendly fashion.

Information on all publications is available through ASBA: sportsbuilders.org.

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This new state-of-the-art facility will serve as the on-campus home of MTSU’s men’s and women’s tennis programs, featuring new locker rooms, spectator facilities for 250 Blue Raiders fans, eight state-of-the-art tennis courts and new coaches’ offices, among many other amenities.

“Today, we mark yet another milestone in fulfilling our mission of educating and serving our students as they prepare for their bright futures,” said President Sidney A. McPhee.  “This is a transformational and comprehensive effort that will dramatically enhance our athletics facilities, but also create a vibrant entry portal to our campus.  Thanks to this support, our tennis student-athletes will be able to practice and play in a facility that ranks among the very best in the region.”

Built on the site of the current Buck Bouldin Tennis Courts, this new tennis complex is the latest development to get underway from MTSU Athletics’ “Build Blue” capital campaign, to provide all 17 MTSU Athletic programs with the resources and infrastructure to compete at a championship level.

“Today is a glorious day for our athletic department and our tennis programs,” said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “This will be a catalyst to move our tennis programs forward and improve on the great success they have already displayed. This is a tremendous way to ignite our Build Blue campaign.”

Men’s Tennis Coach Jimmy Borendame and Women’s Tennis Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall were joined by student-athletes from their programs at the groundbreaking ceremony, as well as members of the MTSU Board of Trustees, donors and Blue Raider fans from around the Midstate community.

The Blue Raider men’s tennis program recently won its third-straight Conference USA title in 2022, while the women’s tennis program earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s All-Academic Team award for the fifth consecutive year in 2022.

“This new facility is for the student-athletes, alumni, supporters, fans, and the community,” said Men’s Tennis Coach Jimmy Borendame. “I believe this new facility will give us a special on-campus home. It will enhance our ability to recruit, develop our student-athletes and create another great home match atmosphere. This is a great day to be a Blue Raider.”

“What an awesome time to be an MTSU tennis student-athlete,” said Women’s Tennis Coach Bailey-Duvall. “This is very exciting for everyone here and from what I’ve learned over the last few years, there’s a lot of memories and fond thoughts about the tennis courts here. One of the most important ones, as mentioned by Dr. McPhee and Chris (Massaro), is Sandy Neal. I am honored to share the court in a place where she’s worked at.”

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“We are pleased that Florida tennis fans will now be able to watch our championship tennis teams in an upgraded setting, complete with a shade structure overhead,” Scott Stricklin said. “We remain thankful to the Ring Family, the Gators Men’s Tennis Boosters, and multiple individual donors for their continued support to enhance our tennis facilities over the years. We are fortunate to have loyal and generous fans who support our program and our student-athletes.”

The project, which began in October 2021, saw a new shade structure added to the grandstand, in addition to the bleacher seating being replaced with chair backs to provide comfort for all dedicated Gators tennis fans.

“We are excited about the enhancements we have coming to our stadium,” Gators head men’s tennis coach Bryan Shelton said. “The shade structure and beautiful seatbacks will make our fan experience better than ever.

“We appreciate those donors who have committed to helping us with this endeavor,” Shelton added. “We also are thankful to our administration for finding ways to constantly improve our facility. The support we have here at the University of Florida is very special and we can’t wait for this upcoming season where we can compete in front of our spirited fans.”

Florida Athletics has invested $292 million in facility upgrades over the last six years, while Gator Boosters, Inc., the fundraising arm of the athletic department, has raised $148 million during that time.

While work on these projects begins, the UAA is looking ahead to components of Phase 4 of the Facilities Master Plan and beyond, including upgrades to the following facilities: swimming and diving, the Lemerand Center – which will impact volleyball and men’s and women’s track and field – the basketball practice facility and a significant renovation and upgrade of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

“Florida’s donor support has always been second to none,” head women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist said. “People want to support our athletic department because of the excellence it represents. We are always grateful for all this support and are really looking forward to the upgrades it allows. Our goal is to be in the top tier of athletic facilities and are thrilled to begin this quest.”

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On a gender basis, girls’ participation increased faster than boys. Wrestling alone is up 250% over the last 10 years. Other sports including lacrosse, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball all contributed to the uptick in girls’ enrollment. With more opportunities, it would not be surprising if this trend continues.

These numbers are a clear signal that athletic directors have a chance to further develop their non-core sports. These sports often play a secondary role in athletic departments, but some administrators might want to change their outlook.

When the athletic department, school personnel, and alumni show a heightened level of commitment to these less recognized teams, it has a ripple effect. It’s a big deal when the school is fully committed to all of its teams. Sometimes even an adjustment to the infrastructure of the athletic department is necessary, with a renewed prioritizing of certain programs. This can be reflected in an inclusive master plan, with a revised mission statement and goals.   

The commitment from the athletic department and school extends to being present for the lesser-known teams. I’ve heard from numerous coaches that athletic department staff only show up at the end-of-year championships. But when it comes to basketball or football, their presence is everywhere. When the teams who are not in the “spotlight” know that the school supports them in every way, there’s a boost in morale.

A Supportive Environment

An athletic director shows support for their non-core teams by consistently promoting them as valuable entities of the athletic department. This includes letting the coaches of these programs run workshops, camps, and other events. When the athletic department promotes these events, more students become involved, thus helping to promote the sport.

Coaches of these programs also have a responsibility to increase their team’s profile within the school. They need to communicate what their program needs to grow and succeed. When athletic administrators are often not as familiar with non-core sports, it’s up to the coach to bridge this gap. 

Using media and social networks are other means of showing support for a program’s non-core sports. Too often, a low-profile team doesn’t receive its due credit for a successful season. Social media is an excellent opportunity to reach the community. 

This type of acknowledgment also applies to awards ceremonies and similar events. Generally, students want to play on a team that gets recognition. I can vividly remember when I was coaching, my undefeated No. 1 tennis player did not win a top award for his achievements. He went over to the athletic director, and politely asked why he was not chosen for this particular honor. The athletic director bluntly stated that basketball was held in higher esteem at the school, and that carried more weight. While the athletic director was honest, this is an attitude that needs to change.

Athletic directors also must keep their non-core sports in mind when it comes to funding. These teams usually are in the lower tier of funding, while sports like football get the largest share of capital because of their popularity and sheer numbers. Plus, they frequently bring in significant revenue. But, with the rising nature of these other sports, finding creative methods to increase their budgets demonstrates a school’s commitment to every team. This is where the athletic director and coach need to explore joint fundraising solutions.

With this adjusted approach, there’s an understanding that non-core sports offer advantages to student-athletes. A prime example is their inclusive nature. These sports often have no-cut teams, which gives students an opportunity to participate when they otherwise might not have a chance. Oftentimes, students don’t bother to try out, fearing they might be cut. With more schools offering sports that are open to all, students are encouraged to participate. 

Lifetime Benefits 

Non-core sports offer additional benefits to student-athletes, one of which is lifetime participation. Tennis, volleyball, and golf are examples of sports that students can play for several years. Chris Hagman, president of Atlantic Recreation, has worked with athletic directors for many years, and he feels strongly that these sports offer many lasting advantages to students. 

“These non-core sports offer the advantage of lifetime fitness benefits, which is not talked about enough, and gives students the opportunity to succeed, which will carry over into their adult lives,” he said.

One area to look for guidance is in youth sports. According to The Aspen Institute, participation in sports for kids 6 to 12 has declined from 45% in 2008 to 38% in 2018. The reasons range from increasing costs to sport specialization. Many observers are worried that these levels have finally caught up to high school sports.

» ALSO SEE: Building a Dynamic Athletic Program Leadership

Because of this, athletic administrators would be wise to assimilate their events into the local youth community, with their programs becoming more kid-friendly. Target marketing to youngsters and their parents is a good start. Almost every local region already has a solid infrastructure in place, with a diverse range of youth leagues. When athletic departments make it a priority to involve themselves in these organizations on a reciprocal basis, it enhances all programs involved.  

Despite the declining participation numbers of certain prominent sports, they are still very popular and will be for a long time. But there’s no denying that there are many alternatives available for all students who would like to be involved in varsity sports. With encouragement and support from athletic departments, there is room enough for these teams to continue their rise in popularity.

Bruce Knittle is a former sports camp owner, Hall of Fame inducted coach, and previously ran a sports consulting company specializing in working with athletic directors and coaches.

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