Here's quick turnaround of the SEC release. My apologies if there are any editing errors:
BIRMINGHAM | Greg Sankey has been named the eighth commissioner of the Southeastern Conference by the presidents and chancellors of the league, which announced the appointment on Thursday.
Sankey, in his 13th year as a member of the SEC staff, has served as executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the league office since 2012. Sankey will succeed Mike Slive, who has served as SEC commissioner since 2002 and who announced last October that he will retire effective July 31, 2015.
"The institutions of the Southeastern Conference searched for a commissioner who would carry forward the momentum of success enjoyed by the SEC over the last decade while also possessing a vision for change in the modern era of college athletics," said Nick Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University and president of the SEC presidents and chancellors. "Greg Sankey's experience with our institutions, his respect on the national landscape, his understanding of the balance of athletics and academics, and his passion for the welfare of student-athletes make him the perfect leader for the SEC."
Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart served as chairman of a search committee that included Judy Bonner, president of the University of Alabama.
"The universities of the SEC represent the greatest combination of academic and athletic excellence and I am honored to be selected to follow Mike Slive as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said. "The SEC is poised to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes for generations to come. We must ensure that the lessons they learn from their achievements in competition and in the classroom translate into success in life after college."
Prior to joining the SEC staff, Sankey was commissioner of the Southland Conference for nearly seven years. He joined the Southland Conference staff in 1992 where he served as both assistant and associate commissioner before he was named commissioner in 1996.
Prior to his term at the Southland Conference he was director of compliance and academic services at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. While at Northwestern State, Sankey also coached the Demons' golf teams for two years. Previous to his tenure at Northwestern State, he was the director of intramural sports at Utica College in upstate New York.
A native of Auburn, N.Y., Sankey earned his master's degree from Syracuse University and his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Cortland. Sankey and his wife, Cathy, reside in Birmingham and have two daughters: Hannah Michelle (22) and Moriah Elizabeth (18).
BIRMINGHAM | Greg Sankey has been named the eighth commissioner of the Southeastern Conference by the presidents and chancellors of the league, which announced the appointment on Thursday.
Sankey, in his 13th year as a member of the SEC staff, has served as executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the league office since 2012. Sankey will succeed Mike Slive, who has served as SEC commissioner since 2002 and who announced last October that he will retire effective July 31, 2015.
"The institutions of the Southeastern Conference searched for a commissioner who would carry forward the momentum of success enjoyed by the SEC over the last decade while also possessing a vision for change in the modern era of college athletics," said Nick Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University and president of the SEC presidents and chancellors. "Greg Sankey's experience with our institutions, his respect on the national landscape, his understanding of the balance of athletics and academics, and his passion for the welfare of student-athletes make him the perfect leader for the SEC."
Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart served as chairman of a search committee that included Judy Bonner, president of the University of Alabama.
"The universities of the SEC represent the greatest combination of academic and athletic excellence and I am honored to be selected to follow Mike Slive as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said. "The SEC is poised to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes for generations to come. We must ensure that the lessons they learn from their achievements in competition and in the classroom translate into success in life after college."
Prior to joining the SEC staff, Sankey was commissioner of the Southland Conference for nearly seven years. He joined the Southland Conference staff in 1992 where he served as both assistant and associate commissioner before he was named commissioner in 1996.
Prior to his term at the Southland Conference he was director of compliance and academic services at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. While at Northwestern State, Sankey also coached the Demons' golf teams for two years. Previous to his tenure at Northwestern State, he was the director of intramural sports at Utica College in upstate New York.
A native of Auburn, N.Y., Sankey earned his master's degree from Syracuse University and his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Cortland. Sankey and his wife, Cathy, reside in Birmingham and have two daughters: Hannah Michelle (22) and Moriah Elizabeth (18).
