Senior Associate Commissioner for Basketball

Position Summary

The Senior Associate Commissioner for Basketball is a senior leadership position responsible for providing strategic vision, administrative leadership, and innovative direction for the Conference’s men’s and women’s basketball programs. Reporting to the Commissioner, the Senior Associate Commissioner serves as a trusted advisor and key member of the Conference’s senior leadership team, helping shape and execute initiatives that advance the sport, strengthen the Conference’s competitive position, enhance the student-athlete experience, and elevate the Conference’s profile regionally and nationally.

This position serves as a primary liaison to member institutions, coaches, administrators, officials, media and commercial partners, and other key basketball stakeholders. The successful candidate will bring a sophisticated understanding of the collegiate basketball landscape, strong relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and a demonstrated ability to translate strategy into meaningful results.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Conference Advancement

• Provide innovative, strategic, and results-driven leadership to advance the sport of basketball and strengthen the Conference’s overall position, visibility, and competitive standing.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Commissioner and Conference senior leadership on matters related to basketball, competitive positioning, and the evolving collegiate athletics landscape.

• Support Conference leadership, member institutions, and key stakeholders in the development and execution of strategic priorities and Conference-wide initiatives.

• Identify emerging trends, opportunities, technologies, and partnerships that can enhance the Conference’s basketball programs, brand, and championship experience.

• Develop and cultivate strong relationships with membership stakeholders, coaches, student-athletes, conference partners, media organizations, commercial partners, and other external stakeholders.

• Represent the Conference and the sport of basketball with credibility, professionalism, and distinction at regional and national levels.

• Serve as a member of the Conference Senior Leadership Team and Basketball Leadership Team.

Basketball Administration & Competitive Excellence

• Provide comprehensive administrative oversight of men’s and women’s basketball, including scheduling, officiating, sportsmanship, technology, data and analytics, video exchange, and video review.

• Serve as the primary Conference liaison to Head Men’s Basketball Coaches and facilitate effective communication between coaches, Conference leadership, and member institutions.

• Provide administrative leadership for strategic Conference scheduling, exploration of scheduling alliances and other opportunities designed to enhance competitive positioning and Conference rankings.

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Men’s Basketball Coordinator of Officials and support the education, evaluation, development, and overall advancement of Conference officials.

• Oversee basketball-related technology and operational initiatives, including video exchange, video review, data analysis, and bench technology.

• Collaborate with member institutions and Conference stakeholders to promote competitive excellence, sportsmanship, consistency, and the continued elevation of the Conference’s basketball profile.

• Monitor developments across collegiate basketball and proactively recommend policies, practices, and initiatives that position the Conference for continued success.

Championship Leadership & Student-Athlete Experience

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, with responsibility for delivering a first-class experience for student-athletes, coaches, fans, media, and Conference partners.

• Oversee and coordinate key Basketball championship elements, including operations, ticketing, venue presentation, custom court/floor design, technology, hospitality, branding, and other championship enhancements.

• Collaborate across the Conference to continually elevate and contemporize the championship experience, both on and off the court.

• Provide administrative oversight and strategic leadership for an additional Conference sport, including responsibility for sport administration, stakeholder relationships, championship planning and execution, and the advancement of the overall student-athlete and championship experience.

• Identify innovative opportunities to increase fan engagement, attendance, visibility, and overall championship value.

• Support Conference championship events, special functions, and other Conference initiatives.

Media, Branding & External Partnerships

• Serve as a key liaison to Conference media partners, including ESPN, and collaborate on initiatives designed to increase exposure, audience engagement, and national recognition for Conference basketball.

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with equipment, technology, commercial, media, and other external partners.

• Identify opportunities to leverage strategic partnerships, emerging technologies, and new platforms to enhance the visibility and value of Conference basketball.

• Represent the Conference at national basketball events, meetings, industry forums, and other high-profile settings.

Governance, Membership & Conference Operations

• Provide administrative support and strategic counsel to Conference stakeholders, including Board of Administrators, coaches, and student – athletes.

• Assist in the successful execution of Conference-wide initiatives, events, meetings, and strategic priorities.

• Support effective governance and policy implementation related to basketball and Conference operations.

• Manage multiple complex and time-sensitive priorities while maintaining a high level of discretion, responsiveness, accuracy, and professionalism.

• Execute duties, responsibilities and special initiatives as assigned by the Commissioner.

Leadership & Professional Expectations

• A comprehensive understanding of the current and evolving collegiate basketball landscape.

• Proven leadership experience in basketball administration, coaching, conference governance, collegiate athletics, or a related field.

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and develop innovative solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations, multiple priorities, and high-profile events.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills.

• Sound judgment, integrity, discretion, and a high degree of professionalism.

• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to work effectively with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, media, commercial partners, and other stakeholders.

• A forward-looking perspective on technology, media, fan engagement, scheduling, championship experiences, and the continued evolution of collegiate basketball.

Education & Experience Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.

• Master's degree or other relevant postgraduate degree is preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 8–10 years of relevant professional experience in collegiate athletics, including coaching, conference administration, basketball operations, sports administration, or a related field. Candidates must demonstrate extensive experience and expertise in basketball, as well as a strong understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives within a collegiate or professional sports environment.

• Significant knowledge and experience with men’s and/or women’s basketball, including scheduling, officiating, championships, governance, competitive issues, and the broader collegiate basketball landscape.

• Experience working directly with senior-level administrators, including head coaches, conference executives, and other institutional leaders.

• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives that produce measurable organizational or competitive results.

• Experience managing high-profile championships, events, or large-scale sports operations, preferably within a conference or collegiate athletics environment.

• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with media organizations, technology providers, commercial partners, officials, and other external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational environments, balance competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.

• Experience with emerging technology, data and analytics, video platforms, digital media, or other innovations that are influencing the administration and presentation of collegiate basketball is highly desirable.

• National and/or regional relationships and demonstrated credibility within the basketball and collegiate athletics communities are strongly preferred.

Office Environment

• Regular office environment with extended periods of computer work.

• Occasional evening and weekend work required to support Conference meetings, championships, and special events.

• Periodic travel to Conference championships, meetings, and NCAA-related events may be required.

• Estimated Travel Required <30%.

• This position will be based out of the Conference headquarters located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Current work environment is hybrid; 3 days in the office and 2 days are remote.

Application Process and Submission Instructions

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and a list of three (3) professional references no later than Monday, September 28, 2026. Requested materials should be submitted electronically to jobs@bigsouth.org.