CSCAA Releases Open Letter On ‘Leading from the Front’ in College Athletics Scramble
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) on Tuesday released an open letter to its membership reaffirming that it is “leading from the front” as NCAA athletics reorients itself in the wake of a pending House settlement decision.
The letter, signed by executive director Samantha Barany, details the organization’s efforts in recent months, including on a recent national panel hosted by the Knight Commission and engaging with members of Congress. The organization remains committed to, “the development of a clear, data-driven approach to preserve and protect opportunities for student-athletes” in swimming and diving.
It also reinforces that, “warning signs are real” that further cuts may be in the offing as colleges begin implementing roster limits and direct compensation of athletes, which threatens to push out funding and spaces for Olympic sports.
The letter, in full:
Dear CSCAA Members,
As you know, the CSCAA has been actively engaged in critical advocacy work on behalf of Olympic sports and the future of intercollegiate athletics (keeping college athletics tied to education). This effort has been ongoing for well over a year and has included strategic collaboration with fellow coaches associations, direct engagement with congressional leaders, and the development of a clear, data-driven approach to preserve and protect opportunities for student-athletes.
The CSCAA has been fully committed to this effort without interruption for a long time. Last week, the CSCAA was one of several Olympic Sport Coaching Associations represented on a national panel hosted by the Knight Commission. My colleague from volleyball, Jaime Gordon, represented all coaching associations. The topic was The Future of Olympic Sports. I want to share the core of that message with you—and explain why it is more important now than ever.
We are witnessing the gradual dismantling of one of college athletics’ greatest strengths: opportunity. Since the announcement of the proposed House settlement—and before it has even been approved—36 Olympic sport programs have already been cut, eliminating 1,017 opportunities for student-athletes. Saint Francis University’s recent decision to move all 22 of its athletic programs to Division III will remove another 613 Division I opportunities. This is not the end.
I’ve spoken directly with athletic administrators who anticipate further cuts. I believe the warning signs are real. But, I also believe we have a responsibility and opportunity to lead and act at this moment in time.
Our message is straightforward: we must protect what we value and maintain what has worked. For the last two decades, what has worked is a consistent investment in Olympic sports alongside football and basketball programs. Despite ongoing shifts—conference realignment, NIL, media deals, and now revenue sharing—investment in Olympic sports has remained steady.
According to NCAA EADA data:
- In 2003, the median FBS institution spent approximately 40 cents on Olympic sports for every dollar spent on football and basketball.
- In 2022, that figure was still around 38 cents.
- FCS institutions remain closer to 45 cents.
- Non-football Division I institutions direct the majority of their operational spending to Olympic sports.
This isn’t just a financial trend—it reflects core institutional values of sponsoring and supporting broad based, Olympic sport programs on every campus.
To protect this balance, the CSCAA, along with our association peers are advocating for a two-part framework:
- Protect: Establish proportional spending targets by classification to safeguard meaningful investment in Olympic sports.
- Maintain: Codify the current NCAA sport sponsorship requirements as outlined in NCAA bylaw 20 — 16 sports for FBS, and 14 for FCS and non-football Division I institutions.
These are not new mandates—they are reaffirmations of a system that has worked effectively for decades. Our goal isn’t to overhaul college sports, but to protect the very model that has long supported swimmers, divers, fellow athletes, and the institutions they represent.
There is a lot of work ahead. The CSCAA will continue our advocacy in Washington, collaborate with peers across other sports, work with our governing bodies, and fight to ensure that Olympic sports remain a priority in the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate athletics.
Today, I want to bring you into this work—to share what we are fighting for and to provide you with a clear understanding of what we are asking from those who have the power to establish guardrails and protect Olympic sports.
With a strong board guiding our efforts, I also want to reaffirm that the CSCAA is leading from the front at this pivotal moment.
Thank you for your continued support of swimming & diving, its athletes, and our future. I’m proud to work on your behalf and alongside you.
With gratitude,
Samantha Barany
Executive Director
College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)
sbarany@cscaa.org
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with CSCAA. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
