SEC Spring Meetings Day 1 Notebook

SANDESTIN, Fla. (May 31, 2022)-----The 2022 Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings, a gathering of the SEC's Presidents and Chancellors, Athletics Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Faculty Athletics Representatives, Head Football Coaches and Head Men's and Women's Basketball Coaches, began Tuesday at the Hilton SanDestin Beach Resort.

It marked the first in-person SEC Spring Meetings in three years, and since that time the SEC has welcomed a number of new head coaches and administrators into the league.

"The ability to see new people and welcome them in and have interactions is a reward of the job," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

At the conclusion of Tuesday's meetings, Sankey addressed a variety of topics with the media.

**It was announced earlier that Catherine O'Neal, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the LSU Health Sciences Center, has been named SEC Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. O'Neal, a member of the SEC's Medical Guidance Task Force, will serve as a consultant to advise the Commissioner and Conference Office staff on medically-related matters and serve as the primary medical liaison for SEC member institutions on matters related to student-athlete health and safety.

**Six SEC student-athletes are in attendance at Spring Meetings this week: Laeticia Amihere, South Carolina, Women's Basketball; Tyler Barnes, Alabama, Men's Basketball; Henry Coleman III, Texas A&M, Men's Basketball; Mikayla Coombs, Georgia, Women's Basketball; Kearis Jackson, Georgia, Football; and Jaylon Reed, Mississippi State, Football. These student-athletes will participate in a number of meetings throughout the week to share their perspective and offer input on issues that impact their college experience.

**The topic of student-athlete mental health will be on the agenda for each group that is meeting this week.

Said Sankey: "We've talked about this issue over time in intentional ways. Given what has happened nationally and what we've heard from our student-athletes, we wanted to make it a first point of conversation."

**Other topics to be discussed this week at Spring Meetings include Name, Image and Likeness issues, transfer issues, 365-day review of the football calendar and College Football Playoff expansion.