NJCAA Announces 2020-21 Committee Chairs

Charlotte, NC - As the academic year approaches, the NJCAA has announced the Sport Committee Chairs for 2020-21. With 37 NJCAA Sport Committees overall, each chair is responsible for serving as a direct contact between the committee and the NJCAA National Office staff while also leading its committee throughout the year.   

Along with several duties and responsibilities, chairs lead weekly conference calls, participate in national rankings respectively, postseason at-large and seeding selections, and All-America selections. In addition, chairs complete any assignments pertaining to the committee and annual NJCAA Convention and when applicable, chairs attend their respective National Championship. 

This year, the association introduced the creation of NJCAA Division II Men's and Women's Soccer. The NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Committee is chaired by Jay Mehrhoff, former NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee Chair and athletic director at East Central (MO), and the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer committee introduces chair Heather Conger, athletic director at Rowan College (NJ).  

First-time chairs include Rosalie Hayenga, NJCAA Division III Volleyball Committee Chair and current head women's basketball coach at Minnesota West, alongside Vice Chair Matt Paquet of Dutchess (NY). Kristen Schuth, NJCAA Region 3 Women's Director and Athletic Director at Genesee (NY) is the new NJCAA DIII Women's Soccer committee Chair along with Vice Chair Danny Mertens of Lake Region State (ND).  

Aaron Bouyea, NJCAA Region 3 Men's Assistant Director and athletic director at Monroe (NY) will head both the NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Committee and the NJCAA Men's and Women's Lacrosse Joint Committee this year. First-time chair Chris DePew, NJCAA Board of Regents member from Region 15 and athletic director at Sullivan County (NY) leads the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Committee with the help of Vice Chair Dale Vos from St. Clair County (MI).  

The NJCAA Eligibility Committee will be led by Troy Tucker, NJCAA Board of Regents member from Region 19 and athletic director at Northampton (PA) as chair for the athletic year. Tucker is a four-time National Athletic Director of the Year and recipient of the prestigious 2019 NJCAA Loyalty Award. Tucker is responsible for the oversight and management of Northampton's ten intercollegiate sports and oversees all athletic facilities. Mike Saddler will serve as Vice Chair and is the current NJCAA Region 6 Men's Director and athletic director at Colby (KS). 

Jerry Smith, NJCAA Board of Regents member, NJCAA Region 1 Women's Director, and athletic director at Arizona Western will enter his third year as Chair of the NJCAA Championship Events committee this fall. Smith was the recipient of the 2019 NJCAA Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award and has guided the Matadors' to immeasurable success in his last 15 years with the athletic program. Vice Chair of the committee is Mary Young, NJCAA Board of Regents member and NJCAA Region 9 Women's Director.  

For a full list of Sport Committee chairs for the 2020-21 year, please see below: