Regent University

Introduction

At Regent University, approximately 250 student-athletes compete across a campus of roughly 2,500 students. The athletic department operates with a full-time staff of just 15 people, meaning every administrator is responsible for far more than a single job description. That is certainly true for Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, Katie Reyes. She oversees budgets, facility and officials’ contracts, and large event planning, while also managing the coaching staff, compliance officer, and sports communications director.

When responsibilities span so many areas, inefficient processes become impossible to ignore. Two years ago, Regent partnered with Spry to bring greater organization to its compliance workflows and build a stronger operational foundation.

The Challenge: NCAA Compliance Split Between Paper and Spreadsheets

Before Spry, Regent managed compliance across two separate systems. Some records were managed on paper while others were stored electronically, making it difficult to keep information organized. For a department with a small staff, every extra step mattered. Time spent tracking paperwork or confirming eligibility was time that couldn’t be spent supporting coaches and student-athletes.

Workflows were very unorganized and mismanaged. Compliance management was split between paper and electronic, which made things confusing and increased room for error and mistakes.

– Katie Reyes

As Regent transitioned from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) toward full NCAA membership, the department wanted a more organized, reliable approach to compliance. The goal was simple: bring everything together in one place.

The Solution: Centralized Compliance Management

Spry became that central hub. Today, Regent uses the platform to distribute NCAA compliance forms, track eligibility, manage rosters, and communicate with teams. Four workflows that used to run in different directions now go through one system.

One of the biggest improvements has been moving compliance forms into SprySign. What was once a paper-driven process is now completed electronically, making it easier for staff and student-athletes alike. Eligibility management has also become more efficient. Coaches can quickly check a student-athlete’s eligibility status in real time, giving them immediate access to the information they need without waiting on emails or phone calls.

Having everything stored in one place, especially for our coaches, has made things easier on all staff members, especially our compliance officer.

– Katie Reyes

Onboarding and Support: A Dedicated Spry Partner

Implementing a new platform always comes with a learning curve, and Regent’s experience was no different. For Katie, building forms in SprySign was initially the biggest adjustment. With guidance from her dedicated Spry contact, Rachel, the process quickly became more manageable.

There was a lot of constant support. Especially as an administrator, I felt that I could reach out to our Spry Contact, Rachel, at any time….and I still feel this way today.

– Katie Reyes

That relationship has continued well beyond onboarding. Whether it’s answering questions or helping troubleshoot new workflows, Spry’s support has remained a consistent resource for the department.

Daily Use: Software Coaches Adopt

The best compliance software is only valuable if people actually use it.

At Regent, coaches rely on Spry to check eligibility, access rosters, and communicate with their teams. As they’ve grown more familiar with the platform, they’ve become increasingly comfortable with navigating it on their own.

Very user-friendly. Especially for our less tech-savvy coaches, they are able to maneuver in Spry to access the necessary information. They’ve seemed to grow more confident with Spry as the months have passed by.

– Katie Reyes

For a department with coaches and administrators of varying technical experience, that confidence has been just as important as the technology itself.

More Partner Than Vendor

For Katie, one of the biggest differentiators has been the relationship with Spry. Rather than starting over with a new support representative each time a question comes up, Regent has worked with the same dedicated contact throughout the partnership. That continuity has made it easier to solve problems and build familiarity over time.

Working with the same individual at Spry to help troubleshoot our problems or to ask questions has always made Spry feel more like a partner than a vendor. It’s uncommon for companies to assign you to one specific person, but having that connection has made our experience extremely positive overall.

– Katie Reyes

Knowing exactly who to call, and knowing they already understand your department, takes away friction that most software relationships never deal with. That consistency has helped Spry feel less like a software provider and more like an extension of Regent’s athletic department.

Results: Streamlined Compliance Workflows

Two years into the partnership, Regent’s Athletic Department looks very different than it did before. Paper files and disconnected workflows have been replaced by a centralized software platform for compliance forms, eligibility, rosters, and communication. Coaches have direct access to the information they need, while the compliance office spends less time managing manual processes.

Just as importantly, the department has built a stronger operational foundation as it continues its NCAA membership journey.

If you’re looking to streamline your processes, have a better management system in place for compliance, and want your student-athletes to be better communicated with from their coach and/or department, Spry is the way to go!

– Katie Reyes

Looking Ahead: Building Toward Full NCAA Membership

For Regent, better compliance processes are about more than improving today’s workflows. They’re an important part of preparing for tomorrow. The university is currently working toward full NCAA membership, making organized, reliable compliance processes more important than ever.

We are in the process of becoming full-fledged NCAA members. Spry has provided the resource for us to be successful with our compliance processes, which is crucial in the NCAA application process.

– Katie Reyes

As the department continues that journey, Spry provides Regent with a foundation its administrators and coaches can rely on, helping the department stay focused on today’s responsibilities while preparing for what’s next.