ORLANDO, FLa. – The Big 12 Conference is holding its spring business meetings at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, starting with basketball meetings on Wednesday.
Both men’s and women’s basketball coaches from the conference attended meetings to discuss topics about the conference, ranging from revenue sharing and the impending NCAA settlement with the House to the current state of the Big 12 Conference and how coaches are approaching the new college landscape.
Some coaches like Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson are downplaying the new challenges. The transfer portal and lucrative NIL deals are at the forefront of discussions.
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“We chose this profession; this profession didn’t choose us,” Sampson said in a joint-press conference on Wednesday. “Our reasons for wanting to get into coaching can’t change...I’m not going to allow these things to affect my passion for coaching because if I do, I should get out.”
The ever-changing landscape of college sports has forced coaches to pivot in how they recruit and coach. Former head coach of Virginia men’s basketball Tony Bennett retired suddenly last year, citing NIL and the portal causing issues for himself.
Kansas Head Coach Bill Self said at the joint-press conference he still sees student athletes wanting to get better and play, no matter the money.
“They still yearn for discipline, deep in their core,” Self said. “They come to their respective schools with still the thought that it can be a springboard to the rest of their lives.”
For UCF, both teams are having to undergo complete roster overhauls with athletes either graduating or leaving UCF.
“This year, we’re not returning any players that were scholarship players,” men’s basketball Head Coach Johnny Dawkins said. “We’re really starting our whole roster over again.”
Women’s basketball Head Coach Sytia Messer said even with some returning Knights, it feels like a completely new era.
“We’re going to keep working hard and bring the right prospects in here,” Messer said.
Football meetings are set to begin on Thursday.