Heath Hutcheson, Campus Carrier sports editor
2023 officially marks 10 years of Division III athletics at Berry. Before 2013, Berry had been a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, or NAIA and now it’s part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA.
Given how much time has passed since the transition, a few coaches who currently work at Berry were asked about how this change to Division III athletics has impacted their experiences. Assistant coach of women’s volleyball, Rachel Ford graduated from Berry in 2018 after the transition. She discussed some of her thoughts on Division III.
“I have become a huge advocate for Division III throughout my college athletic career at Berry, furthering my education in a master’s program and assistantship at another Division III institution, and then returning to Berry as a Division III coach,” Ford said. “I think my college experience would have looked incredibly different at any other level. The beauty of Division III is how the model produces well rounded student-athletes.”
Higher divisions in college athletics tend to be far more competitive, but the smaller size of schools that participate in both Division II and Division III allows them to foster student educations that are not merely focused on athletics but allows them to thrive academically as well.
“I attended college at Berry both to play volleyball and to find what I was passionate about through academics,” Ford said. “My coaches supported and encouraged my motivation in the classroom, all while still being a part of a highly successful volleyball team. I can truly say that I got the full college experience during my time as a DIII student-athlete.”
The Assistant Athletic Director in Sports Medicine, Ginger Swann is also an alumni. Having graduated in 1993, she experienced what athletics were like back while Berry was still an NAIA school, and shared her thoughts on how the transition changed the way athletics work.
“The transition from NAIA to NCAA has shaped athletics,” Swann said. “For example, we have increased significantly in the number of student athletes, teams, and coaches. It is exciting to see Athletics expanding, but it does take more work and intentionality to stay connected and to continue to grow in our culture.”
Division III athletics also have a unique position in how they shape teams with a stronger bond and genuine drive for the sports that they play.
“One of the best parts of coaching at the Division III level is every athlete’s commitment and passion for the sport. I say this because since there are no athletic scholarships at the DIII level, it means that every DIII athlete is choosing to be a part of their athletic team,” Ford said. “That increases the overall love and passion for the sport immensely.”
Finally, Coach Ford also talked about what it was like having her perspective change from when she was a student to what she does now as a coach.
“The experience shifting from a student-athlete to coaching at the Division III level is definitely connected,” Ford said. “Now, I get to recruit athletes who also absolutely love the sport. DIII taught me time management to balance school and athletics, how to have a passion for always being a student of the game, and an undeniable focus on participants of the sport as individuals.”
The impact that Division III has had on the athletic scene at Berry has clearly resulted in many major shifts for both students and staff members, and it is sure to continue to evolve even more into the future.