Scott leads NCAA DII Presidents Council

  Wednesday, January 27, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott assumed his duties as chair of the NCAA Division II Presidents Council at the group’s recent business meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Scott was elected to the position last October. The 16-member Presidents Council is the governing body responsible for establishing and directing the general policy for Division II athletics.

“It's a transformational and challenging time to be involved in the governance of the NCAA, and to do so at the highest level, is an honor,” Scott said. I'm looking forward to dealing with these complex issues and working to ensure the long-term viability of the association.”

Scott said there is important work to do in the coming year.

“At the DII level, we have a number of initiatives underway that target the completion of our 6-year strategic plan,” Scott said. “The Presidents Council, which I now chair, will be investing more than $6 million in new spending to fund these initiatives.”

PSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson said President Scott’s initial selection to the board in 2012 and now his election as chair reflect positively on the role Pittsburg State University plays in the world of intercollegiate athletics at the Division II level.

“This does reflect the growing respect that Pittsburg State University has built, nationally,” Johnson said. “That goes beyond high-quality athletics programs and outstanding facilities, and includes community engagement and, most importantly, PSU’s embrace of what it means to be a true student-athlete at the Division II level.”

Scott said he believes Division II is a perfect fit for Pittsburg State University.

“The focus on academics, championship competition and community engagement is exactly what we're building our athletics programs on,” Scott said.

President Scott was named to the Division II President’s Council in 2012. At the recent NCAA Annual Convention, Scott provided the annual review of Division II’s accomplishments before nearly 1,000 university presidents, conference commissioners, athletics directors, and faculty athletics representatives.