The proposal to allow a third paid assistant in Division I baseball and softball is officially dead in the water for at least the next two years.
Originally presented in April of this year, the proposal would have allowed – but not required – teams to have four paid coaches on staff, including the head coach and any assistants. The measure was defeated in the initial vote in April, but was presented for reconsideration in October by the Southeastern Conference, who also sponsored the initial legislation.
Per a press release from the NCAA, “rules require reconsideration to occur within the same meeting a proposal is adopted.” However, procedural issues with the April vote led to the reconsideration in October. The release did not provide specifics on those same procedural issues.
Had the proposal been adopted, Division I teams would have been allowed a maximum of four full-time, paid members of the coaching staff. At present, teams are allotted three coaching slots, often occupied by a head coach and two assistants.
The Division I legislature process prohibits defeated legislation from being considered again for a two-year period. 2021 is now the earliest that the proposal could be reconsidered for a vote.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association had endorsed the adoption of the proposal.
