Oakland University Athletics Director Steve Waterfield will help decide NCAA rule-violation cases after being named to the Division I Committee on Infractions for 2026-27.

The Horizon League announced the appointment Wednesday, Sept. 16, alongside 13 representatives from member institutions tapped for key NCAA committees. Oakland women's basketball player Lianna Baxter also earned a spot, joining the Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group.

Two seats for one school. The appointments give the Rochester Hills university a voice on NCAA governance as an Infractions Process Task Force, directed by the Division I Board of Directors, reviews the infractions process and penalties for rule violations. The task force is expected to deliver recommendations for modernizing enforcement later in 2026, according to the NCAA.

In April, the Division I Cabinet adopted new rules penalizing programs that sign or play transfer student-athletes not entered in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Automatic penalties include a 50% season suspension for the sport's head coach and a fine equal to 20% of that sport's budget. The rule took effect retroactively to Feb. 25.

Waterfield will serve on the infractions committee alongside Cleveland State's Kendra Greene, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Experience, giving the Horizon League two seats on the panel.

The appointment adds to a year of national recognition for Waterfield. He was named the 2025-26 NACDA DI-AAA Athletics Director of the Year, an honor announced in March by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and celebrated at the 61st annual NACDA Convention in Las Vegas on June 9.

Baxter, who was serving as president of Oakland's Student Athlete Advisory Committee as of June, will represent student-athlete perspectives on the engagement group. Oakland Women's Basketball highlighted her SAAC leadership in a June 5 post on X.

The Horizon League said the committee placements provide professional development opportunities for administrators, coaches and student-athletes while allowing the league's perspective to be shared where decisions affecting college athletics are being made. Other Horizon League schools placing representatives on NCAA committees for 2026-27 include Cleveland State, Milwaukee, Wright State and Purdue Fort Wayne.

The Infractions Process Task Force is expected to present its modernization recommendations before the end of 2026.