Division II Opportunity Grants
Division II Opportunity Grants support NCAA Division II members in hiring underrepresented leaders for athletics administration and assistant coaching to promote access, growth, and long-term success.
This grant was recently updated
Applications now open Oct. 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. ET (previously Oct. 27, 2025) and close Feb. 5, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET (previously Feb. 6, 2026). Reviews, notifications and funding move from February/March, April and September 2026, respectively, to the same months in 2027.
Funder: National Collegiate Athletic Association
Due Dates: October 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. ET (Applications open) | February 5, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET (Applications close)
Funding Amounts: Internship: one year; Coaching Enhancement: three years; Strategic Alliance: three-year diminishing match plus professional development and technology funding
Summary: Supports NCAA Division II members hiring leaders from underrepresented groups in athletics administration and assistant coaching.
Key Information: Strategic Alliance recipients must sustain a full-time position for five years, fully funding years four and five.
Description
The NCAA Division II Opportunity Grants support members committed to hiring leaders from underrepresented groups, including veterans and first-generation college students, in athletics administration and assistant coaching. The program brings together three tracks that promote access, professional growth, and long-term success across different career stages.
The Internship Grant supports a full-time, entry-level athletics administration position. The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant supports a new or enhanced mid- to senior-level administrative position, with responsibilities such as strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, compliance, sport oversight, student-athlete welfare, academics, belonging and well-being, or staff management. The Coaching Enhancement Grant establishes a new full-time assistant coach position, encouraging recruitment, selection, and long-term success of underrepresented groups in coaching.
