The NCAA will no longer be involved with “traditional enforcement” after the House settlement, marking a “distinct industry shift” with the implementation of a CEO of the College Sports Commission, a new position in governance, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN.com. Sources said that the CEO of the College Sports Commission will have the “final say in doling out punishments and deciding when rules have been violated.” This will come as a “level of singular power that never existed during the NCAA’s era of struggling to enforce its rules.” The CEO’s hire is “expected to come quickly” after the House settlement is finalized and has been spearheaded by the Power 4 commissioners from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. Their pick to lead the new agency will “quickly become one of the most powerful and influential people in college sports.” Sources mentioned that the hiring of a new CEO of the College Sports Commission “already is deep in the process.” The conducting of the search process before the job can officially be created is “indicative of how quickly the entire billion-dollar industry will have to transform before games are played again in August.” The CEO of the commission will be “one of the faces of this new era of college athletics.” Sources added that people should expect the person to “come from outside college athletics and not to be a household name to college sports fans.” The CEO is expected to “report to a board, which is expected to include the power conference commissioners” (ESPN.com, 5/19).
Report: CEO of college sports commission to be hired after House settlement is finalized
