MUNCIE, Ind.--- Athletics Director Jeff Mitchell presented his outlook on the new athletic landscape Tuesday at the Alumni Center.

Mitchell presented to the Association of Lifelong Learners, a group of Ball State retirees and community members. He covered topics about the new ways athletics operates.

Challenges within name, image and likeness (NIL) and transfer portals were the topics covered in his presentation. Mitchell also talked about gray areas within NIL.

“Sometimes how they receive that money may not necessarily be in conjunction with a true business transaction between the student athlete and the business,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell believes academics are just as important as playing sports. In addition to NIL and transfer portals, Mitchell talked about the high graduation success rates from Ball State athletes. The graduation success rates for Ball State athletics is over 90%, and it’s the highest it’s been since the NCAA began tracking graduation success rates,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell believes it is vital to detect these changes and adjust to them properly within the athletics department.

“We’re currently trying to manage the changing landscape within intercollegiate athletics, and I think that’s part of the primary discussion points today and how we get a stronger footing in how we operate,” Mitchell said.

With change occurring in athletics, there are steps being taken to improve athletics at Ball State, according to Mitchell.

For more information on Ball State athletics, contact athletics@bsu.edu.

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