Weatherford, OK – Dr. Bo Pagliasotti, chair of the Department of Kinesiology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), continues to earn national recognition for his work as the university’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), a role he has held since 2017. His recent honors reflect ongoing involvement at both the conference and national levels, where he contributes to NCAA governance, student-athlete support, and faculty-athletics collaboration.
In recent months, Pagliasotti has been selected as a NCAA Division II FAR Fellow, named among the top candidates for National FAR of the Year, and recognized with an NCAA service award tied to his work on the Division II Management Council. Together, these recognitions speak to the scope of his work across campus, conference, and national responsibilities.
Pagliasotti was selected in 2024 as a FAR Fellow through the Great American Conference, a leadership development program for Division II faculty athletics representatives. The fellowship included national training in Indianapolis, along with participation in the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association conference and the NCAA National Convention. He was also recently selected for the NCAA Division II FAR Advanced Leadership Institute, a yearlong program that brings together a small group of past fellows to collaborate on national initiatives. That work includes developing resources related to student-athlete mental health, campus communication, and strategic outreach.
His work has also been recognized through repeated nominations for NCAA Division II Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year. Pagliasotti has placed among the top candidates nationally in each of the past two years, including being named one of eight finalists in 2024. The award recognizes individuals who support student-athlete academic progress and maintain strong collaboration between faculty and athletics.
Pagliasotti received an NCAA service award in recognition of his four years on the Division II Management Council, where he served from 2021 to 2026 as the representative for the Great American Conference. The council is responsible for administrative policy and day-to-day operations within Division II and serves as a primary advisory group to the Division II Executive Board. His service on the council also included mentoring roles and participation on multiple subcommittees.
At SWOSU, Pagliasotti serves as a liaison between the university, the athletics department, and the NCAA, reporting directly to the university president while maintaining independence from athletics operations. His work centers on supporting student-athletes academically and ensuring they remain on track toward graduation. He meets regularly with university leadership and athletics administrators, assists with course scheduling, and helps connect students with tutoring and academic support when needed. He also works closely with transfer student-athletes to align degree plans and coordinates with coaches to support long-term academic success.
Pagliasotti’s path to the FAR role followed more than two decades in collegiate coaching, including starting the Bulldog Volleyball program in 2005 and serving as head coach until 2011. He stepped into the FAR role in 2017 following the retirement of the previous representative, continuing his involvement with athletics in a new capacity focused on academic oversight and institutional governance.
His work has led to several initiatives at SWOSU and within the Great American Conference. He helped establish a chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national honor society for student-athletes, which has inducted more than 70 SWOSU students. He also brought EPIC Global Solutions to campus to provide education on the risks of sports wagering and has served as chair of the Great American Conference FAR Council. On campus, he worked with Faculty Senate to create a permanent seat for the FAR, strengthening communication between faculty and athletics.
At the national level, Pagliasotti has served on a wide range of NCAA committees, including as chair of the Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. During his time in that role, the committee awarded more than $5 million to approximately 500 student-athletes across all NCAA divisions. He has also contributed to national conversations on student-athlete support and compliance, participating as a panelist at the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association national convention and helping lead a session at the NCAA National Convention focused on compliance and student-athlete engagement.
Pagliasotti’s work at SWOSU has grown into leadership roles within the Great American Conference and across NCAA Division II. Across each of those spaces, his focus has stayed consistent, supporting student-athletes, strengthening connections between faculty and athletics, and contributing to work that continues to shape the student-athlete experience.
