NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA… What’s the Difference?

One of the most important things that we talk about with our recruits is finding the right “fit”.  Choosing a college is a major commitment, but coaches at all levels can find themselves turning a blind eye to what is in the best interest of the students because of their own needs/wants.  One of the fundamental areas for parents and recruits to educate themselves is the difference between NCAA DI, DII, DIII, and NAIA schools.

Freshman Lauren Cozzi brought her DI-level skills to the Adrian midfield in 2009, starting every game and earning an All-MIAA nomination in the process.

There is a major misconception that the divisions are clear indicators of skill… e.g. that all DI players are better than all DII players, and so on.  This is absolutely not the case.  We currently have several DI caliber players at Adrian College, as does any strong DII or DIII program.  The truth is that each division has a purpose and accompanying strengths and weaknesses.

Division I and II athletics offer a risk/reward scenario for athletes.  If you are one of the best players on the team, you can have a great career against top talent.  However, you can also easily find yourself as a squad player on a roster of 35+ who rarely touches the field.  Soccer at the DI and DII levels is a massive commitment… players should be prepared for the majority of their college experience to revolve around being an athlete, regardless of how big their roles are on the team.  These institutions are generally very large… offering great resources, but limited faculty interaction.

Division III is the NCAA’s “student-athlete” division; focusing first on the “student” and second on the “athlete”.  DIII is the largest college division in the country with 449 member institutions, nearly as many as DII and NAIA combined.  The popularity of DIII centers around developing a high level of play with limited offseason obligations for students, allowing them to easily participate in student organizations and have a well-rounded college experience.  As small private schools, these institutions tend to initially be more expensive than DI or DII schools, but often offer substantial academic and need-based grant and scholarship programs.

NAIA is an organization that was founded before the NCAA split into multiple divisions.  The original intent was to provide a place for small colleges to compete, a need which has been lessened as the NCAA has created DII and DIII.  As a result, many schools have left the NAIA in favor of competing in the NCAA.  Some of the remaining NAIA schools market themselves as “DI” or “DII” since a few NAIA sports have subdivisions, however, there is only one division of NAIA soccer.  Given the wide variance of school size and resources, some NAIA programs are capable of competing with NCAA DII teams while others struggle against NCAA DIII opposition.

For me as a coach, NCAA DIII is the right “fit”.  It allows me to have a positive impact on the lives of college students on a daily basis, while also building a program that competes at a high level.  My players don’t get lost in the shuffle, and I can have a strong relationship with just about everyone on campus, from the night-shift custodian to the president.  My job responsibilities are not limited to my sport, and while it may mean a little extra work, I enjoy the opportunity to be a part of campus community as a whole.

There is also something special about being a part of the NCAA… before I was a player or coach of the game, I was a fan… and it’s rewarding to be part of the organization that I’ve supported for all these years.

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