Sports Leadership

The Importance of Engaged University Presidents

In the world of college sports, there is an intricate hierarchy of leaders who shape the rules and culture of intercollegiate athletics. Governing boards dictate university policies. Conferences organize their championships and tournaments. Coaches directly oversee their athletic programs. And within all of that, the NCAA serves as a guiding voice to protect the well-being of student-athletes.

But Myles Brand firmly believed that the best way to achieve unified, focused leadership was through the power of each university president. As he saw it, the NCAA’s mission could only succeed if every president accepted and enforced NCAA guidelines on their campus. Brand emphasized the reciprocal nature of their relationship and that university presidents had a responsibility to manage their athletic departments accordingly.

In Brand’s words, “I am more convinced than ever that the relationship between intercollegiate athletics and higher education has survived the test of time because those who went before us had the values right. It falls to us—all of us—to see that these values are preserved and that they direct our future actions.”

To that end, Brand argued that university presidents needed to be more engaged with their athletic programs, proactively exercising oversight responsibilities to protect their students’ well-being. From fiscal responsibility to academic success, Brand encouraged university presidents to take charge and reinforce the values outlined by the NCAA, which represented the cooperative efforts of presidents, faculty, administrators, coaches, and student-athletes across the country.

Throughout his career, Brand spoke often on the subject of presidential leadership in sports and offered his guidance to various institutions on the topic.

Sports Leadership

“The Conversation: IMM & Myles Brand,” Indy Men’s Magazine, pp. 44-51

March 1, 2006


“Executive Summary of the Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics”

October 1, 2006


“The Second-Century Imperatives: Presidential Leadership—Institutional Accountability,” Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics

October 1, 2006


“Fiscal Responsibility: Report of the Presidential Task Force” delivered to the National Press Club, Washington D.C.

October 30, 2006


“Fiscal Responsibility: Report of the Presidential Task Force,”delivered to the National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

October 30, 2006


“In All, Fairness,” NCAA State of the Association delivered at 2007 NCAA Convention

January 1, 2007


“Foreword” to The College Athlete’s Guide to Academic Success: Tips from Peers and Profs, by Bob Nathanson and Arthur Kimmel

January 1, 2007


“NCAA Urges, but Can’t Compel, Hiring of Black Coaches,” The Indianapolis Star

January 27, 2007


“Faculty Members’ Constructive Engagement in Intercollegiate Athletics,” The Montana Professor, 17:2, pp. 14-18

March 1, 2007


Indiana University Interviews with Professor Philip V. Scarpino for the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence – Part 1

March 8, 2007