Longtime NCAA exec leaving as new president starts making staff changes

NCAA’s new president making staff changes

INDIANAPOLIS — New NCAA president Mark Emmert is starting to put his stamp on the governing body.

On Friday, Emmert announced his management team, plans to consolidate the 88 NCAA championships under one title and the departure of three NCAA executives including Tom Jernstedt.

They are the first major moves Emmert has made since accepting the president’s job in April. Emmert will not take office until October, but he’s not waiting that long to start implementing his new strategy.

“Beginning in May, I have had conversations with each of the Association’s vice presidents, reviewed the results of studies focused on the culture of the national office, and listened to observations of key individuals in the NCAA membership,” Emmert said in a statement posted on the NCAA’s website. “What I discovered is a great staff, fully committed to the work of the organization and serving the NCAA membership. But there is a need for better communication and for taking full advantage of the talent in the office through stronger collaboration.”

Emmert’s new team has a familiar look.

NCAA interim president Jim Isch will become the organization’s chief operating officer. Longtime executive Wally Renfro will remain the senior adviser to the president, Joni Comstock will serve as senior vice president of championships and senior woman administrator and Bernard Franklin will retain his title as executive vice president of membership.

Franklin was believed to be a candidate to replace the late Myles Brand.

“I’ve known Bernard for a long time,” Emmert said. “And he and Jim bring a critical understanding of the campus to the national office from their days in higher education at a number of institutions.”

Emmert also selected four interim leaders.

Greg Shaheen, who has been in charge of the Division I men’s basketball tournament, will now become interim executive vice president of championships and business strategies. That’s part of the plan to consolidate — and create more interest — in other NCAA championships.

“Our championships are one of the primary tools we have to enhance the student-athlete experience,” Emmert said. “We have advanced a handful of our championships into premiere events, led by the Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships. I want to take advantage of what we’ve learned with those events and elevate the experience of student-athletes in other championship events.”

NCAA media relations managing director Bob Williams will become interim vice president of communications; Scott Bearby will be interim vice president of legal affairs and general counsel; and Keith Martin will continue as interim vice president of administration and CFO, which he took when Isch was promoted to interim president.

But three familiar names will be gone.

Jernstedt, who joined the NCAA in 1973, and oversaw the growth of the men’s basketball tournament from a 25-team event in 1973 to the new 68-team format will be leaving at a yet-to-be determined date. Dennis Cryder, senior vice president of branding and communications, and general counsel Elsa Cole, vice president of legal affairs, will both leave Aug. 31.

Emmert also outlined three areas that he wants the NCAA to focus on during his tenure — academic and athletic successes of student-athletes, providing a national platform to govern college sports and engaging the public.

(This version CORRECTS Updates. Corrects short headline to new president.)