MCCANTS NAMED TO NCAA DII NATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Indianapolis, IN - Coker University Softball student-athlete Abbie McCants has been appointed as a member of the NCAA Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the National Office recently announced. 

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) serves as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete liaisons who monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within the conference, and at the national level.

"I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity to serve as a SAAC representative," said McCants. "I am most thankful for the people who chose me to fulfill this prestigious role at a national level. I am honored to represent the South Atlantic Conference and Coker University Athletics through my appointment in this position! I can not wait to serve my fellow student athletes and hopefully make a positive impact on many lives!"

Representatives are responsible for gathering feedback and reporting on behalf of their conference, as well as relaying important events, hot topics, and educational information to both the campus and conference levels. In addition to relaying information across campuses and conferences, the committee speaks on behalf of the entire Division II student-athlete body throughout the NCAA governance structure.

"I am extremely proud of Abbie on her recent appointment to National DII SAAC," said Aaron Beebe, Senior Associate Director of Athletics. "She was away from the softball field a bit this year due to injury, and during that time she really began to flourish as a leader on SAAC, on our campus, and continued her leadership within the softball program. She is a star in the classroom, within our campus community, on the diamond and now she gets to shine on a national level. No one deserves that honor more than Abbie."

Division II SAAC members serve as voting members on a number of Division II committees, including the Management Council and Executive Board. The SAAC also has voting authority during the Division II Business Session at the annual NCAA Convention.

Currently 28 members, including representatives from each of the 23 Division II multisport voting conferences, three at-large representatives, and two members of the Management Council. The two members of the Management Council and one member of the Executive Board serve as ex officio and non-voting members. This group meets quarterly, at the NCAA Convention in January, in April, in July, and in November, along with virtual meetings to discuss important issues, provide feedback, and receive any updates from the NCAA National Office.

"Abbie McCants is the kind of student-athlete every coach dreams of—driven, selfless, and relentlessly committed to making a difference," said Head Softball Coach, Brittany Bennett. "Whether she's leading on the softball field, in the classroom, or now at the national level with SAAC, Abbie represents the very best of what college athletics is all about.  Watching her grow into this role and now represent student-athletes across the country on the NCAA National SAAC is a proud, emotional moment for all of us."

McCants is a sophomore from Andrews, SC, and has been a force on and off the diamond for Coker. Along with SAAC, she is involved in numerous other ways on campus. Before using a medical redshirt this season, she made 32 appearances as a freshman, both at the plate and in the circle. During her rookie campaign, she recorded 19 hits in 59 at-bats for a .322 batting average with 9 runs and 20 RBIs with 6 doubles and 3 home runs (.576 SLG). She made 24 appearances with 2 starts and a 3-1 record in the circle as well.

The Division II SAAC Nominating Subcommittee selects national committee members from a diverse pool of candidates that conference offices submit. The Division II Administrative Committee ratifies the appointments, and each student-athlete serves a non-renewable 

For more information, visit the NCAA DII SAAC Page.