NCAA will allow non-coaching staff members to help in practice this summer

Photo by Noah J. Richter | UK Athletics

When Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman came on board last month, Bruiser Flint shifted from an on-court assistant coaching position to associate to the head coach, a role previously occupied by Tony Barbee. Thanks to a new decision by the NCAA, Flint and other non-coaching staff members will still be allowed to help the team on the court this summer.

Today, the Division I Council Coordination Committee approved a waiver that will allow two non-coaching staff members to conduct instructional, on-court activities during the summer access period, which spans eight weeks. No more than four coaches and non-coaching staff members total can be on the court with the players at a time. The waiver also allows non-coaching staff members — which also includes graduate assistants — to participate in skill-instruction activities as practice players (paging Brad Calipari!). Think of it as the Dino Gaudio rule.

The change goes into effect June 4 and only applies to this summer. In its explanation, the committee said it made the change due to “the increased need for countable coaches to be recruiting after a dead period that lasted more than a year and the likely larger number of new players on teams for 2021-22 because of the change in transfer rules.” Aka, it’s a busy summer!

[NCAA]