COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland Director of Athletics Damon Evans has been named to the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee, which is charged with making recommendations to the NCAA Board of Directors for how to address Division I's most significant challenges and more effectively meet the needs of current and future student-athletes.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve on the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee,” said Evans. “To be part of the team that will be influential in charting the future of college athletics is incredibly exciting. The committee is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, universities and conferences and I look forward to the impactful discussions and recommendations that will emanate from this group. This is a transformational time in college athletics and we will take an in-depth look at all aspects of the collegiate experience with the best interests in mind for current and future student-athletes.”
The committee, co-chaired by Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and Ohio Athletics Director Julie Cromer, will consider what it means to be a Division I member and how the division should be organized, what is the best process for making decisions, and how to better meet the needs of and set expectations for Division I student-athletes.
"The Division I Board of Directors is relying on the Transformation Committee, with their collective expertise and broad and diverse experiences, to do the important work that will be brought to the Division I Board of Directors for final consideration," said board chair Jere Morehead, president at Georgia. "The time is now for transformative change, and will require the full engagement and input of the Division I membership to work with the Transformation Committee and Division I Board to address the challenges facing Division I. The initial work of the committee will begin immediately in preparation for the expected new constitution at the 2022 NCAA Convention in January and continue through August 2022."
The work of the Constitution Committee will be reviewed at the Convention and is intended to provide a framework for each division to follow in updating its rules. The action of appointing a committee does not assume adoption of a new constitution in January.
The Constitution Committee has been meeting since August and is expected to recommend changes to the NCAA constitution to transform college sports. As stated earlier this month, the committee intends to ask each division to review its rules to ensure they are aligned with the new principles.
NCAA Division I Transformation Committee
“It is an honor and privilege to serve on the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee,” said Evans. “To be part of the team that will be influential in charting the future of college athletics is incredibly exciting. The committee is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, universities and conferences and I look forward to the impactful discussions and recommendations that will emanate from this group. This is a transformational time in college athletics and we will take an in-depth look at all aspects of the collegiate experience with the best interests in mind for current and future student-athletes.”
The committee, co-chaired by Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and Ohio Athletics Director Julie Cromer, will consider what it means to be a Division I member and how the division should be organized, what is the best process for making decisions, and how to better meet the needs of and set expectations for Division I student-athletes.
"The Division I Board of Directors is relying on the Transformation Committee, with their collective expertise and broad and diverse experiences, to do the important work that will be brought to the Division I Board of Directors for final consideration," said board chair Jere Morehead, president at Georgia. "The time is now for transformative change, and will require the full engagement and input of the Division I membership to work with the Transformation Committee and Division I Board to address the challenges facing Division I. The initial work of the committee will begin immediately in preparation for the expected new constitution at the 2022 NCAA Convention in January and continue through August 2022."
The work of the Constitution Committee will be reviewed at the Convention and is intended to provide a framework for each division to follow in updating its rules. The action of appointing a committee does not assume adoption of a new constitution in January.
The Constitution Committee has been meeting since August and is expected to recommend changes to the NCAA constitution to transform college sports. As stated earlier this month, the committee intends to ask each division to review its rules to ensure they are aligned with the new principles.
NCAA Division I Transformation Committee
- Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
- Jeri Beggs, Faculty Athletics Representative, Illinois State University, Missouri Valley Conference.
- Janna Blais, Senior Woman Administrator, Northwestern University, Big Ten Conference.
- Dean Bresciani, President, North Dakota State University, Summit League.
- Greg Christopher, Director of Athletics, Xavier University, Big East Conference.
- Patrick Chun, Director of Athletics, Washington State University, Pac-12 Conference.
- Julie Cromer (co-chair), Director of Athletics, Ohio University, Mid-American Conference.
- Troy Dannen, Director of Athletics, Tulane University, American Athletic Conference.
- Jack DeGioia, President, Georgetown University, Big East Conference.
- Damon Evans, Director of Athletics, University of Maryland, College Park, Big Ten Conference.
- Robin Harris, Executive Director, The Ivy League.
- Linda Livingstone, President, Baylor University, Big 12 Conference.
- Shane Lyons, Director of Athletics, West Virginia University, Big 12 Conference.
- Jere Morehead, President, University of Georgia, Southeastern Conference.
- Gloria Nevarez, Commissioner, West Coast Conference.
- Jim Phillips, Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Greg Sankey (co-chair), Commissioner, Southeastern Conference.
- Kendall Spencer, Former Track and Field Athlete, University of New Mexico.
- Lynda Tealer, Senior Woman Administrator, University of Florida, Southeastern Conference.
- Randy Woodson, President, North Carolina State University, Atlantic Coast Conference.
- TBD, Pac-12 Conference.
