Jacksonville Athletic Academy (JAA) proudly participated in the Independent Collegiate Athletic Association’s (ICAA) Annual Conference on February 8, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida—an event that marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of independent collegiate athletics.
Representatives from JAA—including Head Coach Nolan Carroll and athletic leadership—joined delegates from 16 colleges and universities to collaborate on advancing student-athlete development, compliance, and competitive integrity across the ICAA landscape.
Shaping Future Leaders Through ICAA’s Four Pillars
At the conference, the ICAA reaffirmed its foundation around four strategic pillars:
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Competition: Delivering consistently high-level matchups across member institutions.
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Academic Integration: Emphasizing education alongside sports as a core value.
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Compliance & Governance: Maintaining structured eligibility, transfer, and reporting standards.
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Officiating Development: Certifying and advancing referees to uphold fair competition.
Coach Carroll emphasized JAA’s commitment to these pillars:
“Representing Jacksonville Athletic Academy at the ICAA conference underlines our dedication to building a program defined by integrity, structure, and opportunity.”
Regional Structure: JAA’s Role in the Sunshine Coast Conference
The ICAA features four regional conferences, and JAA competes in the Sunshine Coast Conference (SCC) which includes schools from northeast Florida and southern Georgia. This alignment ensures quality regional competition and clear pathways to the ICAA National Championship later in the year.
Conference Highlights: Policy, Education, and Athlete Advocacy
At the February 2025 summit, key sessions focused on:
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Eligibility standards preserving NCAA eligibility.
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Transfer and scholarship governance guided by the ICAA Compliance Handbook.
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Academic accountability and institutional reporting requirements
Coach Carroll and JAA’s leadership engaged with breakout sessions on athlete health, academic support, and officiating consistency capturing best practices to enhance JAA’s program.
Strategic Growth & Exposure for JAA Student-Athletes
Attendance at the ICAA conference gives Jacksonville Athletic Academy:
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Access to structured competition across four geographic conferences.
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National visibility and recruiting pipelines via certified scouting networks.
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A platform for student-athlete development without risking NCAA eligibility.
JAA is uniquely positioned to develop overlooked athletes and guide them toward future opportunities at NCAA or NAIA programs while fostering leadership, integrity, and growth.
Looking Ahead: ICAA’s 2025 Conference & National Championship Aspirations
The 2025 ICAA Conference & Expo is scheduled for December 13th in Savannah, GA, featuring educational tracks, general sessions, and an expo that connects athletic institutions nationwide. Attendees will build wellness strategies, and align with innovation leaders in collegiate athletics.
With JAA’s sights set on national competition, this conference frames the roadmap toward the ICAA National Championship scheduled for late 2025 and reinforces JAA’s goal to compete with integrity, structure, and competitive excellence.