Pac-12 Conference Announces Commissioner Larry Scott to End Term as Commissioner

Pac-12 Conference Announces Commissioner Larry Scott to End Term as Commissioner

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Mutual decision was reached one year before the end of his contract;

Scott will stay until June this year

SAN FRANCISCO (January 20, 2021) The Pac-12 conference announced today that after ongoing discussions between its governing executive committee, its presidents and commissioner Larry Scott, it was mutually agreed that the commissioner would not seek a new contract. The decision was made long before the expiration of next year’s contract, in part to enable a new commissioner to negotiate and maximize the conference’s next important long-term media rights deal.

The conference and Scott decide it’s time for new leadership after his 11-year tenure. Scott’s existing contract is expected to expire in June 2022 and it has been agreed that he will remain in the role until 30 June 2021 to assist with the transition.

The Pac-12 executive committee, including President Michael Schill of the University of Oregon as chairman; Kirk H. Schulz, president of Washington State University; and Ana Mari Cauce, president of the University of Washington, will immediately begin a national search for Scott’s replacement as commissioner.

“We appreciate Larry’s pioneering efforts to grow the conference by adding new competitive university programs and expanding the Pac-12 to the television network parity with the other conferences,” Schill said. ‘At one point, our television deal was the most lucrative in the country, and the debut of the Pac-12 network helped deliver our championship brand on traditional and digital platforms to US and world markets. That said, the intercollegiate athletics market is not staying static and now is a good time to bring in a new leader who will help us develop our future strategy. ”

Scott, whose current term expires in 2022, said this time is right for several reasons: ‘I was in pro sports for 20 years, I have been involved in college athletics for over ten years now and it is’ a wonderful time life to pursue other exciting opportunities. This moment, when university athletics is moving in a new direction and the conference is about to begin with the next round of media negotiations, seems like the right time to make a change. It is important that the conference can set up the person who will negotiate and execute the next agreement. I am confident that the conference is well positioned for sustained success, based on the recent strong appreciation and market interest we have received from traditional and non-traditional media organizations. I appreciate the support of the Pac-12 member institutions and a very talented staff with whom it has been my privilege to work. “

Commissioner Scott will leave a significant imprint on the Pac-12. It was during the 2010-11 academic year that Scott helped make changes that transformed the conference into a modern 12-team league. In addition to expanding to 12 teams, member institutions agreed to share equal revenue for the first time in the conference, creating two football divisions – the North Division and the South Division – and playing a football championship for the first time. Scott also secured major media rights deals with ESPN and FOX, which dramatically increased national exposure and revenue for each school, in addition to setting up Pac-12 Networks that guaranteed better exposure in all sports.

Another area of ​​continuity that will prioritize both Pac-12 and member institutions in the search for Scott’s successor is the continuation of positive graduation ceremonies for the conference athletes. President Schill mentions the improvement of the conference graduation, measured by the NCAA’s graduation ceremony (GSR). As 90% of NCAA Division I student-athletes now graduate during the measurement period, the Pac-12 experienced improvements throughout the conference, with some member institutions and athletics programs achieving 100% graduation among student-athletes in specific sports programs.

The Pac-12 conference has led or tied the NCAA Championship in 54 of the past 60 years, with the exceptions no less than third. Under Commissioner Scott, the conference will also debut its Pac-12 Impact program using the power of sport to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. It has also played a leading role with its Student Athlete Health and Wellness initiative, which is doing groundbreaking research on injury prevention, brain trauma and mental health. Other milestones of achievement between Commissioner Scott, the Pac-12 Conference and the member institutions can be found below.

About the Pac-12 Conference

The Pac-12 Conference is the “Conference of Champions,” which has led the country in NCAA championships in 54 of the past 60 years, with 529 NCAA team titles overall. The conference consists of 12 leading U.S. universities – University of Arizona, Arizona State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Colorado, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Utah, the University of Washington and the Washington State University. For more information on conference programs, member institutions, and commissioner Larry Scott, visit Pac-12.com/conference.

Key milestones during the tenure of Commissioner Larry Scott

  • His business approach to the broadcasting rights of the conference helped lay the groundwork for a strong valuation of the rights in the next round of negotiations. The approach included record returns from Tier I rights, exposure to non-revenue sports, innovative digital media, equal distribution between schools and the compilation of all the media rights of the conference in one package. The key to achieving the goals was the creation of Pac-12 Networks, the first television network to be fully owned by a college conference and whose goals go beyond generating revenue to emphasize exposure to women’s and Olympic sports. .

  • These innovations, along with the following, have pushed conference revenue from about $ 100 million to about $ 500 million a year.

  • Two schools added (Colorado and Utah), enabling the creation of a soccer championship game, which increases the conference’s footprint and visibility.

  • Adopted a new logo and identity based on its West Coast culture and an embrace of innovation that modernized the conference and helped maintain its role as the Conference of Champions by hosting 104 NCAA Championships over the past ten years win.

  • His West Coast identity has been used to launch a major initiative in Asia, particularly targeting China, including an annual basketball game in China and a key strategic alliance with Alibaba.

  • Has placed a strong focus on the health and well-being of student-athletes, including research on the prevention and treatment of brain injury, liberalized transfer rules, efforts to alleviate time requirements to student-athletes, and the inclusion of student-athletes in conference management.

  • Develop comprehensive social justice efforts, including ‘Pac-12 Impact’, working closely with our student-athletes to promote education and rental practices to achieve equality.

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