The transfer portal is something that some Millersville athletes have personal experience with. What then led them to transfer? What was the process like, and how has it changed over time?
Playing an NCAA sport is something that many athletes strive for, yet several athletes play for more than one school throughout their careers. The current NCAA transfer portal was introduced in Oct. 2018 to streamline the process of transferring for student-athletes. The portal is meant to better connect student-athletes with recruiters and coaches. While the transfer process may improve an athlete’s situation, it can also add additional stress simply due to dealing with the process itself.
In an article for The Recorder in Feb. 2024, Sports Editor Ian Yale outlined that many student-athletes chose to enter the transfer portal for a range of reasons.
Yale wrote, “The transfer portal offers many student-athletes a change of scenery, whether they are looking to transfer up in hopes of one day going pro, transferring down in hopes of finding more playing time, or simply transferring to further their studies.”
He also cited financial motivations, especially for those who are looking to transfer to Division I programs.
The transfer process has changed over time, with the current system being introduced in 2018. Before 2018, athletes who wanted to transfer schools had to get permission from both the school they attended and the NCAA. Programs, when reaching out to an athlete attending another school, were subject to the same rules. Athletes also had to sit out for a year after transferring to their new school under a rule called “academic residency.” While academic residency did not apply to graduate students, it did affect undergraduate athletes. Overall, the rules regarding transfers made the process incredibly lengthy for both schools and the athletes.
The modern transfer process was introduced by Susan Peal, who served as a compliance administrator at Ohio State. In 2011, Peal was working on creating a system that allowed high school athletes to rescind their letters of intent at one school to attend another. Her experience with this process helped her apply similar concepts to collegiate athletes, leading to the transfer portal era.
This new era allows athletes to transfer to schools within any of the three NCAA divisions. It is important to note that while Division I must use the transfer portal, Division II and Division III are not required to do so, although all NCAA schools have the option of using the portal.
Millersville University, part of NCAA Division II, competes within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and offers seven men’s sports and 12 women’s sports. According to the website College Factual, the university has 502 athletes – 216 men and 286 women – competing in at least one sport. Each athlete has their own journey to competing at the college level, including those who transfer during their collegiate careers.
One student, Kederick Glasper, transferred from Kentucky State University, another Division II school, to Millersville to continue his football career and gain experience within the Media Arts program. However, the process was rocky for him, especially when it came to adapting to Millersville and its impact on his academic career.
“My old school took a while to send over my transcripts, so I came into Millersville with no classes assigned. I had to pick up any class to be considered a full student,” Glasper said. “I’m basically starting over again. At KSU, I had a 3.5, so here with these two classes I’m taking, I already know I’m lucky if I get a 3.0, but once I’m back in my major courses, I can get it back up.”
Another student, wrestler Nick Cottone, had a fairly smooth experience with the transfer portal. He transferred from Davis and Elkins College, also a Division II school, primarily due to head coach Jerry Boland’s coaching philosophy.
“The process of transferring was really exciting, but at the same time stressful. I had to communicate and travel to other schools for visits, and it had to be done within a short window,” said Cottone.
Cottone faced a challenge with his athletic career after transferring. “I believe that transferring is the main reason why I needed to take a redshirt year,” he shared. “I needed the redshirt year to adjust and get better to compete in the PSAC.”
Transferring led to success for Cottone, likely helped by his redshirt year. During this past season, he qualified and competed at the NCAA Division II Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cottone also was runner-up in the 141-pound weight class at the Super Region 1 Championships.
Another athlete, Nicolina Pezzone, a junior and a pitcher for Millersville’s softball team, had the smoothest transfer process. Pezzone transferred from the University of Charleston, another Division II school, to Millersville University. While she had some trouble adapting to the team culture, her transfer process was greatly helped by the welcoming nature of her team and coaches.
Pezzone found success in academics and athletics. She shared how the transfer process helped her narrow down what she wanted to study. “At my previous school, I was a Communications major, but here at Millersville, I was able to narrow it down to Public Relations. I think transferring overall enhanced my academic career by challenging me and providing ample opportunities.”
Pezzone expressed similar sentiments about her athletic career. “Transferring was the best thing I could have done as an athlete. Now I have more confidence and passion for the sport than I ever have.”
Each athlete has faced tough decisions when making choices that affect their athletic and academic careers. Glasper faced more challenges during the transfer process itself, along with its impact on his academics. Cottone did not encounter these academic struggles but needed a redshirt year to adjust to the level of competition that comes with wrestling in the PSAC. While Pezzone had neither academic or athletic challenges, she still faced the adjustment of coming to a new school and being on a team with new people.
The current NCAA transfer portal is effective but not perfect. It has made the process more transparent and reduced the time it takes for athletes to transfer. This has eased the burden on all parties involved, yet the transfer portal can still be improved. Some proposed changes limiting the number of transfers an athlete can make during their career. The transfer portal is still relatively new and will continue to evolve as the NCAA sees fit to improve the experience for athletes.
One thing that has not changed – and likely never will – for athletes entering the transfer portal is that they must be sure of their decisions. Glasper summed it up by saying, “You just gotta be sure you want to leave. Not everywhere is better than once you left, and I’m lucky to say that MU actually is.”
Pezzone shared this sentiment: “Transferring was the hardest, yet best decision I could have made. It was challenging going to a new place and meeting so many different people, but it has been an amazing experience so far.”
