Broad coalition formed to protect and improve the student-athlete experience

Faced with potential changes that could impact universities of all sizes in all regions of the country, a group of 32 conferences today announced the creation of a coalition designed to protect and improve the student-athlete experience.

The coalition includes all conferences of all sizes throughout Division I. The coalition will serve as a loosely knit forum for the conferences to join together to communicate the many benefits student-athletes receive and to provide input on ways to continuously improve the student-athlete experience.

"For generations, college athletics have been a crucial part of the educational experience. Thanks to the way college sports are run, student-athletes gain an education, learn skills, and have opportunities in life. But today, those benefits are being challenged," said Craig Thompson, the commissioner of the Mountain West Conference.

"We're proud of what has been done for student-athletes across the collegiate landscape, recognizing that athletics are an important part of the academic experience," Thompson added. "I'm pleased every Division I conference has joined together to protect and improve the college experience."

Under the coalition, named the "Coalition to Protect the Student-Athlete Experience", individual institutions and conferences will continue to make their own decisions about benefits or other items that fall under their individual purviews.

The 32 conferences of the CCA supporting the formation of the coalition are the America East, American, Atlantic 10, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic Sun, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big South, Big Ten, Big West, Colonial Athletic Association, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy League, Metro Atlantic Athletic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Pac-12, Patriot League, Southeastern, Southern, Southland, Southwestern Athletic, Summit League, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic conferences.