ATLANTA (June 8, 2020) — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and National Association of Basketball Coaches are expanding their collaboration with the NCAA to develop potential alternative recruiting opportunities for prospective student-athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic to include NCAA Division II.
Both coaches associations will recommend to the Division II Administrative Committee that the current Division II recruiting quiet period, which ends June 30, be extended through July 31, 2020. This aligns with the WBCA and NABC’s previous support for extending the Division I recruiting dead period through July 31. During a dead period, a coach cannot meet face-to-face with or watch prospects compete anywhere in person. During a quiet period, a coach may engage in both activities but only on their own campus. Division II leadership has determined that the conditions of a quiet period better meet the needs of Division II institutions.
NCAA Divisions I and II are the only divisions of competition that have recruiting calendars. NCAA Division III, NAIA and other organizations do not similarly regulate the recruiting activities of their member institutions’ coaches.
“The health and safety of coaches and prospects at all levels of competition is important,” said WBCA President Tricia Cullop, head coach at Toledo. “We believe it is unsafe for any coach to travel for purposes of recruiting in July.
“Both the WBCA and NABC have proposed amendments to 2020-21 Division I recruiting calendars that will provide coaches with the opportunities and flexibility they need to evaluate and recruit prospects in late August and September,” said Cullop. “We encourage the Division II Administrative Committee to extend the quiet period through July 31 and to similarly amend their recruiting calendar so that Division II coaches can evaluate and recruit when hopefully it is safer to do so. We also encourage coaches at all other levels of competition who may not be restricted by recruiting calendars to listen to the advice of medical experts and exercise your best personal judgment in determining those recruiting activities in which you will engage.”
“Even as some restrictions are beginning to lift, it’s imperative that the wellbeing of coaches, prospective student-athletes and their families remains our top priority,” said NABC President and TCU head coach Jamie Dixon. “The extension of the quiet period in Division II aligns the sport across multiple divisions, and is consistent with the position of the NABC Board of Directors, which is represented by all levels of the game. We continue to work tirelessly alongside the WBCA and NCAA on identifying new recruiting opportunities for coaches and prospects in August and September if conditions allow.”
The NCAA Division II Administrative Committee will discuss the current quiet period when it meets June 10. The NCAA Division I Council will consider the WBCA and NABC’s proposed amendments to Division I recruiting calendars on June 17.
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