Myles Brand Timeline | Myles Brand

A Myles Brand Timeline of Milestones

Dr. Myles Brand is best known for his legacy as President of the NCAA, where he led the organization through an era of academic and organizational reform. However, his journey began long before his presidency and will be remembered long after his death.

During his life, Brand was a philosopher, an administrator, a leader in higher education, and an advocate for student-athletes. Below is a chronological timeline of the major events that shaped and impacted Brand’s career, including some of his most influential works and speeches available here in the archive.

Presidential Task Force Launched

Under Brand’s leadership, the NCAA launched a Presidential Task Force consisting of fifty university presidents regarding the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics. After eighteen months, the task force released a report with recommended guidelines for university presidents that centered around: fiscal responsibility, student-athlete well-being, the integration of athletics into

Initial APR Data is Released

The Academic Progress Rate (APR) data that had been collected during the 2003-2004 academic year was compiled and released in February 2005. Based on the numbers, about 51% of Division I institutions would have had at least one team subject to sanctions—if those penalties had been enacted. The initial numbers

2005 NCAA State of the Association Address

After another year of advocating for reform, Brand’s 2005 State of the Association Address sought to debunk some of the commonly held misperceptions about intercollegiate athletics. He again asserted that college sports must prioritize student-athletes and their education, and he reminded the nation that he was not “the czar of

Brand Introduced the Collegiate Model of Athletics

In his 2004 State of the Association Address, Brand described a “value-based vision” of intercollegiate athletics that was more responsive to student-athlete needs and encouraged greater oversight by university presidents. This Collegiate Model differed from professional sports by focusing on education—not profit or competitive success. In his speech, Brand emphasized

Academic Progress Rate Implemented

Part of Brand’s academic reform plan included new, more accurate ways to assess academic progress and hold universities accountable for their student-athletes’ success. The Academic Progress Rate (APR) was designed to track a team’s academic performance each term, which allowed the NCAA to enact sanctions if a team was underperforming.

First NCAA State of the Association Address

Less than two weeks after he assumed office, Brand gave his first NCAA State of the Association Address at the annual NCAA Convention. In that speech, he outlined the key issues that faced the NCAA and his goals for the future of the organization, emphasizing the two guiding principles that

Inducted as President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association

When Cedric Dempsey announced his retirement in 2002, the NCAA began looking for a new president who could lead the organization into an era of academic reform. After a seven-month search process, the Executive Committee unanimously selected Myles Brand to serve as President of the NCAA. Brand was the first

First National Press Club Address

Over the years, Brand delivered three speeches to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., including his first groundbreaking address in 2001. In his speech, Brand called for academic reform in intercollegiate sports, warning against the rise of commercialism and advocating for a renewed commitment to student-athlete education. This was

Coach Knight Fired

Brand faced one of the most controversial decisions of his career when Coach Bob Knight was accused of a pattern of verbal and physical abuse against students and staff. Brand conducted an investigation and issued a zero-tolerance policy that outlined the university’s expectations. After several months on probation, Coach Knight

Ceremonial Inauguration as President of Indiana University

Brand was formally inaugurated as President of Indiana University about six months after beginning his tenure. During his inaugural address, Brand discussed his philosophy on higher education and asserted that all people are morally obligated to look to the future. Download Inaugural Address