Bryce Choate
Voice for AthletesAdvocating within the NCAA
and the world of sport
Bryce Choate
Voice for AthletesAdvocating within the NCAA
and the world of sport
Hi, I’m Bryce! I am a passionate advocate for all athletes, serving on the NCAA Board of Governors as a former Division I student-athlete representative. My priority is to enhance the student-athlete experience in every way possible, especially when it comes to supporting mental health.
My Advocacy
I began advocating for student-athletes by joining the campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Oral Roberts University in in 2017.
In 2018, I joined The Summit League SAAC, which is the same committee at a conference level. I became the Chair of The Summit League SAAC in 2019, which appointed me to the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. While serving on DI SAAC, I also served on the Board of Governors’ Student-Athlete Engagement Committee (SAEC). The SAEC reports directly to the Board of Governors and served as a direct line of communication with student-athletes. I provided feedback on the key issues facing student-athletes and the Association as a whole.
I was elected as the Vice Chair of DI SAAC in 2021, which placed me on the Division I Council. This Council is the primary legislative body for Division I within the NCAA’s governance structure. I voted on all legislative proposals on behalf of student-athletes while serving on Council.
I was appointed to my current role on the NCAA Board of Governors in 2022 as a result of the new NCAA Constitution. “The board is charged with ensuring that each division operates consistently with the basic purposes, fundamental policies and general principles of the Association” (NCAA Board of Governors). The new constitution created a smaller board that included a former student-athlete from each of the three divisions (I, II, and III), and I am the first to serve in this capacity for Division I. I have provided input on critical areas such as hiring the new NCAA President, engaging with Congress, and determining the Board’s strategic priorities.
My Values & Beliefs
Every athlete deserves support for their mental and physical well-being that will leave them feeling whole when they finish competing
Too often, athletes have support for their physical health (and sometimes their mental health) while competing, but they are left with something missing when their careers are over.
Athletics is part of who we are, but our identity is so much greater
Every athlete must face the crippling truth that their time of competing will come to an end. Some of us are left with an insurmountable void in our identity when that time comes. I encourage every athlete to find their identity in something rooted much deeper so their foundation will be intact when that time comes.
The voice of athletes should be at the forefront of any initiative that impacts them
Athletes at every level are constantly faced with big issues. Many times, the loudest voices trying to solve those problems are not athletes and do not have the best interests of all athletes in mind. I believe athletes should be the first AND loudest voice in all of those conversations.
11 JAN 2023: Incoming NCAA President Charlie Baker provides opening remarks to the Board of Governors during the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio, TX. C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos (Pictured: Charlie Baker)