Commissioner

Buffkin / Baker•Rock Hill, SC

14d

About The Position

Commissioner South Atlantic Conference The South Atlantic Conference (SAC), an NCAA Division II athletic conference with headquarters in Rock Hill, SC, invites nominations and applications for the appointment of Commissioner. The current commissioner, Patrick Britz, has announced his retirement effective at the end of May 2026. The distant forerunner of the SAC was the North State Atlantic Conference which formed when the “Little Six,” as they were called at the time, broke from the North Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1930. These charter members included Lenoir-Rhyne College, Atlantic Christian College, Catawba College, Guilford College, Elon College, and High Point College. The North State continued to grow over the next 30 years and a name change became necessary when the league accepted its first South Carolina member in 1961. The league took on the name Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) later in 1961. The South Atlantic Conference was founded in 1975 as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) affiliated, football only conference. In 1989-1990, the SAC became a comprehensive, multi-sport conference, and in 1990, the Conference was officially recognized as a member of the NCAA Division II. Today the SAC membership includes a group of 12 colleges and universities, similar in size and philosophy relative to academics and athletics, who have a sharp focus on student-athletes and their well-rounded intercollegiate experience. SAC members include: Anderson University in Anderson, S.C.; Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tenn.; Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.; Coker University in Hartsville, S.C.; Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.; Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.; Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, N.C.; Newberry College in Newberry, S.C.; Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn.; The University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, Va.; and Wingate University in Wingate, N.C. The SAC sponsors 23 sports, 11 for men and 12 for women. Since becoming eligible for NCAA DII postseason play in 1993, the SAC has sent representatives from all its sponsored sports to NCAA postseason play. The SAC has been a mainstay in NCAA Championship participation. Wingate claimed the SAC’s first ever team NCAA national championship in men’s soccer in 2016 and Wingate baseball captured the conference's second national title in 2021. Lenoir-Rhyne men’s lacrosse captured the league’s third national title in 2023, and Wingate captured the fourth team title in 2024 in men’s cross country. Further, in the past nine years, SAC teams from eight different sports and six different schools have advanced to the final game of the NCAA Championship in football, men’s soccer, baseball, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, men's golf, women's golf, women's lacrosse, and men's lacrosse. Finally, SAC schools have won 42 NCAA regional titles in 11 sports since 2008-09. As the SAC approaches its 50th year of athletic tradition and excellence, the commitment of the member institutions to enrich the collegiate experience for student-athletes through participation in highly competitive athletics programs has not waivered. The meaningful and memorable experiences provided to these student athletes help to build the leaders who will shape our society moving forward. For more information about the SAC, please visit: www.thesac.com . For the next Commissioner, the SAC desires an innovative and strategic leader who places an emphasis on collaboration with all levels of personnel from the member institutions to maintain the SAC’s record of academic and athletic excellence. The primary responsibility of the Commissioner is to lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s operations, governance, championship events, member-institution relations, strategic growth, branding, student-athlete welfare, NCAA compliance, and external partnerships in order to advance the SAC’s mission and the success of its student-athletes and member institutions. The Commissioner will play a pivotal role in the SAC ‘s future and growth will be expected to develop, enhance, and maintain strong relationships with various stakeholder groups. The Commissioner is appointed by, and reports directly to, the SAC Council of Presidents. The Commissioner in turn has direct supervision of the SAC staff: Associate Commissioner for Conference Programming and Compliance/SWA; Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Operations; Assistant Commissioner for Video Services and Digital Strategy; and the Assistant Commissioner for Championships and External Operations. The Commissioner will also oversee approximately 10 Coordinators of Officials. The successful candidate will have significant experience in intercollegiate athletics administration, ideally at the NCAA Division II level, with increasing leadership responsibilities with a preference for experience in conference governance. Strong strategic planning, operational management, and leadership capabilities are needed along with excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. He/she will also have knowledge of NCAA rules, championships management, and sport operations; the ability to innovate and think strategically about growth, brand, and membership services; experience in marketing and promoting collegiate athletics, as well as revenue generation; and a commitment to student-athlete welfare and academic integrity. A bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is preferred. Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary and a generous benefits package. To make a nomination, provide a referral, or for additional information, please use the contact information below. Applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed. Review of applications will begin immediately. The desired start date is June 2026. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: [email protected] Buffkin / Baker Ken Carrick, Partner 980-296-5401 Janny DeLoache, Associate Partner 704-377-7828 The South Atlantic Conference is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with applicable law, the SAC prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.

Requirements

Significant experience in intercollegiate athletics administration, ideally at the NCAA Division II level, with increasing leadership responsibilities with a preference for experience in conference governance.
Strong strategic planning, operational management, and leadership capabilities are needed along with excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
Knowledge of NCAA rules, championships management, and sport operations
Ability to innovate and think strategically about growth, brand, and membership services
Experience in marketing and promoting collegiate athletics, as well as revenue generation
Commitment to student-athlete welfare and academic integrity.
A bachelor’s degree is required

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s operations
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s governance
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s championship events
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s member-institution relations
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s strategic growth
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s branding
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s student-athlete welfare
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s NCAA compliance
Lead and manage all aspects of the SAC’s external partnerships
Develop, enhance, and maintain strong relationships with various stakeholder groups
Direct supervision of the SAC staff
Oversee approximately 10 Coordinators of Officials