“We are concerned that the new financial obligations placed on schools will force administrators to divert attention and resources away from non-football and non-basketball sports—the very programs in which the majority of NCAA student-athletes participate.” That was the urgent message in a joint statement issued on June 6 by four national collegiate coaching associations—the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The statement came in response to the House v. NCAA settlement agreement, approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, a landmark decision that aims to resolve long-standing antitrust claims surrounding athlete compensation.
While acknowledging the progress this $2.8-billion settlement represents, the coaching bodies voiced deep concern over its unintended consequences, particularly for non-revenue sports. They warned that sports like track and field and cross country, which feature some of the largest and most inclusive rosters in the NCAA, could see their teams significantly reduced when the decision takes effect in the 2025–2026 school year. Now, another respected voice has entered the conversation: Pat Henry, the veteran track and field coach of the Texas A&M Aggies.
On June 10, DyeStat’s X (formerly Twitter) account posted a video clip of Coach Henry sharing his perspective on the shifting college sports landscape. “I’ve been a proponent of team for a long, long time,” he said. “I don’t understand how our sport thinks that we can operate the way we’re operating and get people to come and watch.” Henry emphasized the need for a stronger team identity in track and field—an effort, he believes, is crucial for preserving engagement and ensuring sustainability in an evolving collegiate model. “I think it’s got to be red beat blue. It’s got to be a team. It has to be a team,” he insisted. “And I just hope that we move in that direction.” In such a moment, he called to stay united.
Track. Is. A. Team. Sport.@aggietfxc head coach Pat Henry voiced his thoughts on where collegiate track and field need’s to move going forward following the recent ruling of House vs. NCAA. #NCAATF
Entire Press Conference https://t.co/1jsUxHKqWU
: @kgray5555
:… pic.twitter.com/IgLwPspwXw
— DyeStat (@DyeStat) June 10, 2025
“There’s some talk about it. There’s some good talk now about it, which is a change, which is a different. People are looking at some things a little bit different. So that doesn’t throw out an individual competition, but we have to have a team competition, in my opinion.” While the veteran track and field coach clarified that individual competitions still have their place, his central message was clear: unity and team-based competition must be a cornerstone of the sport’s future.
The report is developing…
The post Frustrated Track and Field Coach Makes Bold Plea as NCAA vs House $2.8 Billion Settlement Shakes Up the Sport: “I Don’t Understand” appeared first on EssentiallySports.
