PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference concluded its annual meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida, which took place from May 30-June 1.
During the three days of meetings, the Conference welcomed Wichita State and had substantive discussions regarding the Conference’s Power 6 campaign and associated branding efforts, Inter-Association health and safety guidelines, concussion protocols, venue security, transfer rules and student-athlete time demands. The Conference voted to opt in to the NCAA autonomous legislation regarding RARA (required athletically related activities).
“We had productive meetings during our time in Key Biscayne,” said American Commissioner Mike Aresco. “We all can take pride in the accomplishments of our league over the past several years. The Conference has significant momentum with a series of recent initiatives and accomplishments, including the release of our Strategic Plan and the addition of Wichita State. We honored our Scholar-Athletes and celebrated the highlights of the past year. Our membership is committed to a bold Power 6 vision for the Conference and we all look forward to embracing the challenges and opportunities ahead with a collective determination and spirit.”
The Conference’s Faculty Athletic Representatives reported on the successful inaugural American Athletic Academic Consortium Symposium, which was held at Temple University in March and which dealt with student health and well-being. Presentations were made to athletic directors and men’s and women’s basketball coaches by Jerry Palm, consultant for Independent RPI analytics, and John Shukie, from Forward Progress, addressed the group on the NCAA’s upcoming values-based revenue distribution. The league’s presidents and athletic directors also heard from television executives from ESPN and CBS Sports. Commissioner Aresco and the Conference’s consultants from Wasserman Media Group also discussed the league’s future television, media and digital rights strategies.
Susan Herbst, president of the University of Connecticut and outgoing Conference Board of Directors chair, will begin a four-year appointment representing The American on the NCAA’s Board of Directors. Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor at the University of Houston, was appointed chair of the Conference’s Board of Directors through 2019, and Dr. David Rudd, President at the University of Memphis, will serve as the Board’s vice chair.
USF’s Mark Harlan and Tom Bowen from the University of Memphis were appointed to two-year terms as Conference chair and vice chair, respectively, on the Athletic Director Executive Committee. Outgoing chair Jeff Compher, from East Carolina University, was named chair of the Athletic Director Finance Committee. Manoj Chopra, from UCF, was appointed chair of The American’s Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) group.