Northwest Notes June 27, 2025

Baber named Whitworth softball coach

SPOKANE — Bill Baber, with more than 350 career victories to his name at NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA levels, will be the next head softball coach at Whitworth University, athletic director Tim Demant announced.

Baber replaces Bob Castle, who went 6-32 last season at Whitworth, and resigned after six seasons and an 89-116 record with the Pirates.

“The first thing you have to do is change the mindset that you can win, no matter what,” Baber said. “Along with hitting the recruiting trail hard. It takes a lot of hard work, but I believe that Whitworth gives us everything we need to be successful.”

“I believe his experience, passion and commitment to our Christ-centered mission will take our softball program to new heights,” Demant said of Baber.

Baber has spent the last 22 seasons at California Baptist University in Riverside.  He was an assistant coach under Mike Smith from 2004-11, during which time the Lancers won an NAIA national championship and appeared in the NAIA title game three consecutive seasons.  Baber was elevated to head coach for the 2012 season following Smith’s departure to another school. His promotion coincided with CBU’s transition to NCAA Division II and he went 333-161-1 over 10 years.  In 2019 the Lancers moved to NCAA Division I and joined the Western Athletic Conference.

Smith returned to Cal Baptist for the 2022 season and Baber agreed to become associate head coach under Smith, a role he served through the 2025 season.

Baber’s squad won a National Christian College Athletics Association championship in his first year as head coach in 2012.

Prior to his time at CBU, Baber coached under Smith for three seasons at Biola University before serving as head coach in 2003 and posting a 25-27 record. He rejoined Smith at Cal Baptist the following season.

Big Sky's Wistrcill named CCA vice president

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner Jim Phillips will serve as president of the Collegiate Commissioners Association, while Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill was approved as the organization’s vice president, the CCA announced at the conclusion of the annual June meeting.

“It’s an honor to serve as Vice President of the CCA and support the important work that is being done by our Commissioners’ group across the country,” Wistrcill said. “This is a pivotal time for college athletics, and the collaboration amongst conferences has never been more essential. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to help shape meaningful progress for the future of our student-athletes and institutions.”

Wistrcill will succeed Phillips as President at the end of his two-year term. 

Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, is the Football Bowl Subdivision representative on the executive committee. Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross will serve as the representative for the Football Championship Subdivision. Jeff Jackson, Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner, will represent the BC-10 (basketball centric conferences).

Wistrcill, who has more than 30 years of experience in college athletics, officially begins his eighth year as commissioner of the Big Sky Conference in the fall of 2025. In 2022, Wistrcill was appointed as just the second person ever from the Big Sky to serve on the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, having worked in that role for the past three seasons. During his time as commissioner of the Big Sky, Wistrcill has also served on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Competition Committee and the Collegiate Football Officiating Board. He was formerly the athletic director at the University of Akron and previously worked in the athletic departments at both the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin.

Montana State's Costello to serve as Big Sky representative on DI Football Championship Committee

The NCAA has appointed Montana State athletic director Leon Costello to the Division I Football Championship Committee, serving as the Big Sky Conference's representative. 

Costello replaces Sacramento State athletic director Mark Orr as the league's representative on the committee. Sac State is leaving the Big Sky Conference in 2026.

Costello's appointment will begin immediately and run until Aug. 31, 2028. 

The committee’s primary function is to oversee the Division I Football Championship including selecting and bracketing teams to participate in the championship field. The committee also evaluates teams throughout the season and serves as the chairs for their respective regional advisory committees during the regular season.

The Big Sky led all other FCS leagues for playoff bids in 2024 with five, topping the Missouri Valley (4), the CAA (4), the United Athletic (3) and the Big South-OVC (3) overall for the 24-team field.