( UPDATE: As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the basketball programs at the University of Antelope Valley had brought in more than$ 45, 000, exceeding its initial goal of$ 40, 000. One unnamed payment of$ 18, 000 was one of its efforts.
Jordan Mast, the men’s basketball coach at the University of Antelope Valley, expressed confidence on Sunday that the financially strapped NAIA school would at least be able to take both his staff and the school’ll women to future event and national competitions.
Since the secret, for-profit school’s administrators informed staff and instructors in an emergency appointment two weeks ago that the school may be losing its on-campus school and would no longer be able to pay all of its staff, this had been seriously questioned.
Mast’s GoFundMe campaign, which it started three days earlier, had now raised$ 24, 000 of its$ 40, 000 target on Sunday night to pay for its post-season rings expenses.
Days later, Chegg, a California-based education technology firm, called Mast to guarantee that it would protect any shortfall in funding that the team required to thrive but were not supported by GoFundMe.
According to Dan Rosensweig, President &, CEO of Chegg,” We were inspired by the extraordinary hard labor and endurance of the Antelope Valley sports team.” ” We are happy to contribute to the success of these young student athletes who earned and earn the chance to engage in the post-season games.” ( Since the pandemic, Chegg has faced public backlash and legal action from a number of investors over whether its business model supports academic cheating. )
The school had been put on probation by its accrediting agency last summer after being acquired by the Singapore-based education technology firm Genius Group. The stopgap money has brought the class some much-needed relief. The school’s winning sports teams are now one of its last remaining pillars as it appears to be on the verge of collapse.
For the California Pacific Conference championship next week, both Antelope Valley hockey teams have claimed the best seed in their respective brackets as well as berths for the NAIA championships that start in late March. The men’s program at Mast won its older night game on Saturday, bringing its season total to 24- 4. Mast, a former walk-on person at Gonzaga, is now the Inventors ‘ seventh and, most likely, final season as head coach.
Mast stated in an interview with Sportico that the recent “outpouring of support” had put both basketball teams in a position to confidently advance into the postseason, so long as they did n’t have to travel too far.
To choose the frame, the NAIA collection committee meets on March 6 and 7.
According to Jim Carr, president and CEO of the NAIA,” General price reduction for traveling groups is usually a priority during the process to fixed the field.” The committee and staff will do their best to help ( Antelope Valley ), but they are also required by policy to ensure that all qualifiers are treated fairly and that there are only a few options within driving distance for both their men’s and womens teams.
In stark contrast to several recent articles that have dominated NCAA Division I college activities, such as the player explosion of NIL money, the Explorers ‘ penury saga stands out. Although its users typically have smaller budgets than D-II I schools, NAIA is most similar to NCAA Division III.
Nothing of Mast’s participants are receiving complete staff fellowships, as is typical for NAIA programs, though some do get limited rides. Out of a$ 2.3 million athletic department budget, the Pioneers ‘ men’s basketball expenses for the fiscal year 2022 were$ 321, 000, according to data the school provides to the Department of Education. Nearly half of the 516 individuals who were enrolled in Antelope Valley that time played on one of their 11 different sports team.
With little hope that this will cover his earnings, Mast agreed last week to get 75 % of his remaining spend in the form of Genius Group inventory.
Mast said,” To be honest, we had a lot of people quit over this.” I just told them that I did n’t care if my entire salary had to be given to the team at this time.
The share price of Genius Group, which trades on the NYSE American under the ticker GNS, has increased by almost 90 % over the past six months. In April 2022, the company filed its initial public offering at a price of$ 6 per share after closing last week’s trading at 35 cents each share. Prior to the Offering, it was made up of four different learning companies. At the time of the closing, the company acquired four additional companies, including Antelope Valley, which it had acquired from Marco and Sandra Johnson for$ 30 million in inventory and money.
UAV was first established in 1997 by the Johnson partners. The Pioneer Event Center, where both hockey team play, was among the school facilities that the Johnsons retained as part of the sale before leasing it up to Genius Group.
Previous undergraduate and NFL football player Marco Johnson claimed in an exam that the eviction process was brought on by Genius Group’s months-long delay in making its rent payment. Johnson argued that the company is the one who” self-imposed” its decision to leave the school this week and expressed annoyance that it had never told him or his family about the UAV’s grave situation before the announcement was made public.
Johnson said,” We could have jumped in several times if someone had asked us for help.” However, no one asked us for assistance.
The Genius Group’s director did not respond to an email requesting comment.
Mast originally stated that UAV command had informed the group that all learners, including his athletes, would need to leave their dorms by Sunday. However, that deadline has since been moved to this coming Thursday. Johnson declares that he will take all reasonable measures to ensure that the kids are housed through the end of the semester.
Johnson was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round of the 1988 NFL Draft after playing large device and running again at Hawaii. After being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson’s career as a professional fire and nurse came to an end. UAV was initially established by him and his wife as a health training school in 1997 before being granted undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Johnson stated,” My wife and I founded this establishment on our flanks, for our community.” Johnson claimed that he had been contacted by several teams interested buyers before selling the class to Genius Group.
According to Johnson,” We decided to go with Genius based on what they said they would do, which is to not change anything.” It tramples us. This was definitely not what we had hoped may occur. At this point, the best we can do is assist children within our purview.
Johnson expressed his willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the lights on in the dormitories and gym, even if it means immediately going into his own pouch, and stated that he anticipates taking control of the school facilities on Thursday.
It’s difficult for Mast to see a potential beyond the latest sports time, given the obvious.
Mast said,” I am on the job business.” I adore instruction and would like to keep doing it. I’m not sure where it will be, but I have a feeling it wo n’t be the University of Antelope Valley.
Johnson expressed concern for the survival of the college he and his family had built. He mentioned the time it took UAV to initially receive its local approval, a process that might need to be repeated if Genius were to sell it.
For the time being, Johnson says he’s happy that the baseball teams ‘ accomplishments have given the university, including his, much-needed attention.
I am aware of the value of sports, Johnson said. ” And bless God we bought in athletics]to UAV] because this is where the focus is right now. Then, my wife and I might not have learned about this. ( The fourth paragraph of this article has been updated with information about Chegg’s commitment to the basketball program and a quote from company CEO Dan Rosensweig. )