Taylor appointed to NCAA board

Lamar University President Dr. Jaime Taylor has been elected to the prestigious National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors. In this role, Taylor is one of 10 university presidents representing 22 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and Division I conferences.

“I am deeply honored and privileged to serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, and I am honored to represent the Southland Conference,” Taylor said. “This appointment underscores our university’s unwavering commitment to excellence academically and athletically. I look forward to working with the Board to advance the development of our student-athletes.”

The Board is the highest governing body of Division I and is responsible for strategy and policy as well as for overseeing the legislation and administration of the Division. The Board consists of 20 Presidents and Chancellors; one from each of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, 10 from the remaining 22 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and Division I conferences, the chair of the NCAA Division I Council, and a faculty representative for athletics.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has many responsibilities, including:

• The focus is on strategic issues in university sport and their relationship to higher education.
• Monitoring legislation to ensure it does not conflict with policies and objectives.
• Review and approve violation program policies and procedures.
• Approval of an annual budget.
• Passing legislation when significant values ​​are at stake or an issue requires rapid action, making it impossible to use the regular legislative process.
• Collaborate with NCAA staff to determine how the national office can best support Division I members.

“At an extraordinary time when college sports are evolving every day, it is a tremendous honor to have President Jaime Taylor of Lamar represent the Southland Conference on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors,” said Commissioner Chris Grant. “Dr. Taylor values ​​the transformative importance of sports and education and recognizes the positive and significant impact student-athletes have on campus and in the community. He is an outstanding leader and respected voice for the Southland Conference as we move into this new era of college sports.”

This is the first time in Lamar University’s history that an individual has taken on this important role.

Since September 2022, Jeff O’Malley, athletic director of Lamar University, has also served the NCAA as secretary and rules editor of the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee.