At Heitner Legal, we are proud to announce a significant victory for our client, Caleb Van De Griend, a talented men’s basketball player at Idaho State University.
On November 4, 2025, the District Court of Bannock County, Idaho, granted an ex parte temporary restraining order in our favor, enjoining the National Collegiate Athletic Association from enforcing its denial of Mr. Van De Griend’s legislative relief waiver. This order allowed Mr. Van De Griend to immediately participate in practices and competitions for the 2025-2026 season.
Following the court’s intervention, the NCAA promptly reconsidered its position and granted the waiver, enabling Mr. Van De Griend to fully compete without further delay. While we appreciate the NCAA’s willingness to pivot and resolve the matter expeditiously once the order was in place, it is regrettable that judicial action was necessary to reach this equitable outcome.
Mr. Van De Griend’s journey exemplifies the challenges faced by international athletes during extraordinary global events. As a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, he graduated from high school in December 2020, which aligns with the equivalent of a spring 2021 graduation in the United States under Australia’s academic calendar. His family held sincere religious convictions against vaccination. This decision, combined with Australia’s stringent border restrictions, prevented Mr. Van De Griend from leaving the country until April 18, 2022. Documentation from the Australian Government confirms that unvaccinated citizens required exemptions for travel, which were not readily available for non-essential purposes like pursuing collegiate athletics abroad. During this enforced delay, Mr. Van De Griend participated in 20 contests in the NBL1 West league solely to maintain his skills and fitness, receiving no compensation or professional benefits whatsoever, as detailed in his eligibility statement submitted to the NCAA.
Despite these uncontrollable circumstances, the NCAA initially denied Mr. Van De Griend’s waiver on October 28, 2025, citing delayed enrollment provisions and dismissing the pandemic’s impact as insufficient mitigation. Prior to this, Mr. Van De Griend had demonstrated exceptional talent and character. He received scholarship offers from United States institutions as early as 2021, including from Dakota College at Bottineau. Upon arriving in the United States, he enrolled at Minot State University, an NCAA Division II program, where he thrived academically with a 3.77 grade point average and athletically as an All-American, leading the nation in rebounding and field goal percentage. In 2025, he transferred to Idaho State University, where Head Coach Ryan Looney praised his leadership and integration into the program.
The significance of this resolution extends beyond Mr. Van De Griend’s individual case. It underscores the importance of fairness and flexibility in NCAA eligibility decisions, particularly for athletes affected by unprecedented events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The court’s temporary restraining order highlighted the potential irreparable harm of denying eligibility, including lost opportunities for competition, team integration, and access to revenue-sharing programs. By reconsidering after the order, the NCAA demonstrated a capacity for responsiveness that aligns with its mission to support athletes’ academic and athletic pursuits. This outcome serves as a reminder that governance in college sports must be applied with consideration for unique circumstances to promote equity and opportunity.
At Heitner Legal, we are committed to advocating for athletes navigating complex issues in collegiate athletics. Our firm has extensive experience assisting clients with NCAA eligibility disputes, including waiver applications and appeals, to ensure they can compete without undue barriers. We also provide comprehensive guidance on Name, Image, and Likeness matters, helping athletes maximize their earning potential through compliant deals and partnerships. Additionally, we support clients in broader areas such as contract negotiations, compliance reviews, and representation in disputes involving institutions or governing bodies. If you or someone you know is facing similar challenges, we invite you to contact us for a consultation to explore how we can help protect your rights and advance your goals.
We extend our gratitude to the court for its swift and thoughtful ruling, to Coach Looney and the Idaho State University team for their unwavering support, and to the NCAA for ultimately reaching a resolution that allows Mr. Van De Griend to focus on his season. This case reaffirms our dedication to principled advocacy, and we look forward to continuing to serve the sports community with integrity.