Release Via theACC.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today three student-athlete representatives from its member institutions who will hold voting power on proposed NCAA rule changes under the Division I autonomy process.
Clemson’s Darron Coley (track & field), Wake Forest’s Caroline Kuhn (volleyball), and Syracuse’s Kingsley Jonathan (football) will participate as members of the ACC Autonomy Committee and will be invited to attend various ACC governance meetings and participate as members of the voting delegation at the 2020 NCAA Convention.
“The input our student-athletes bring to the governance process is invaluable and we look forward to having Darron, Kingsley and Caroline around the table,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “Over the last five years of the autonomy process, the contributions from our student-athletes have helped shape the significant and necessary changes in the collegiate model.”
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted in August of 2014 to restructure how schools and conferences govern themselves, paving the way for student-athletes to have a voice – and a vote – at every level of decision-making. A council, established as part of that process, is responsible for day-to-day operations of the division and includes two seats for student-athletes, two for faculty and four for commissioners.
The new model also granted flexibility to schools in the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern conferences to change rules for themselves in a list of specific areas within Division I. The legislative process for these 65 schools includes the three student-athlete representatives from each conference who vote on rule changes.
A native of Centreville, Virginia, Coley graduated in May with a degree in management and a minor in psychology. He has one season of eligibility remaining and plans to pursue a master’s degree in business administration. Coley served as the school’s SAAC Vice President and gained experience as an intern with Clemson’s Director of Presidential Communications.
A junior from Greenville, North Carolina, Kuhn served as secretary on the Wake Forest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has been a member of the ACC SAAC for two full years. She played in 29 matches last season, leading the Deacons with 27 service aces and finishing fourth with 176 kills.
A member of the Syracuse SAAC, the Dean’s List and the ACC Honor Roll, Jonathan has 25 tackles (15 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 21 career games. He ranked third on the team with five sacks in 2018 and started the last two games of the season, including the Orange’s Camping World Bowl victory over West Virginia.
This is the fifth group of ACC student-athletes chosen to represent the league in the NCAA Autonomy process.
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, now in its 66th year of competition and 15 members strong, has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest continue to build upon the cornerstones on which the league was founded in 1953 with a consistent balance of academics, athletics and integrity. The ACC currently sponsors 27 NCAA sports – 14 for women and 13 for men – with member institutions located in 10 states. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow @theACC on Twitter and on Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
