Crisis is often the impetus for innovation and new technologies.
The rulings by the NCAA that wiped out the athletic accomplishments of the University of Southern California and placed it on probation for three years has helped to spawn a new Santa Monica-based technology company that has created a software platform to make sure it will never happen again.
Santa Monica FieldLevel, Inc. has developed a dynamic web-accessible worldwide technology that makes it possible for colleges and coaches to ensure that they are staying in compliance with NCAA rules for recruiting student-athletes.
With all the abuses and failures that have come to the surface over the past several years, what is never discussed is just how extensive and difficult it is for college coaches and their staffs to maintain the requirements and limitations put forth by the NCAA when it comes to recruiting. College recruiters are required to track every phone call, e-mail, and meeting they hold with student-athletes, and the failure to provide such detailed records can result in severe penalties for the coach and institution.
“FieldLevel is at the forefront of athletic management software and the feedback from our coaches, compliance officers and administrators has been very positive,” Pat Haden, athletic director for the University of Southern California said. “Moving forward, we have great infrastructure for cohesiveness and efficiency for [tracking] our recruiting program.”
FieldLevel’s centralized database is accessed from any computer or smart phone. It offers coaches the ability to track all communications with recruits and has the ability to warn coaches of potential violations such as excessive phone calls and contacts before they happen. It generates detailed compliance reports for school officials and the NCAA by aggregating and storing the information.
“Technology is rapidly changing the college recruiting landscape and coaches are faced with the task of expanding their recruiting network while also adhering to the growing number of NCAA bylaws,” Brenton Sullivan, CEO and founder of the company said. “Fieldlevel has bridged the gap between compliance officers and coaches, while providing recruiters with an innovative technology.”
Founded in 2009, the company has 11 employees. It plans to increase the number of people it employs as it rolls out its new software platform nationwide and internationally.
FieldLevel’s software has already been adopted in 40 states by higher learning institutions, which include all of USC’s 20 varsity athletic programs, Navy, South Alabama, and Nicholls State, along with several community college programs. FieldLevel is working to offer its software platform to as many schools as possible, nationally and internationally, as well as to professional sports organizations everywhere. The prospects for its growth and offering opportunities in Santa Monica are very promising.
