The NCAA today named MARK LEWIS Exec VP/Championships & Alliances, a position formerly held on an interim basis by GREG SHAHEEN. NCAA President MARK EMMERT made the announcement, stating that in Lewis’ new role, he will be a member of the organization’s senior management group and oversee the NCAA’s 89 championships, as well as its business initiatives, including the corporate and media partner programs. Lewis was previously President of the hospitality and event company Jet Set Sports, but has also served as NBC VP/Sponsorship and was President & COO of OPUS, a joint venture between the SLOC and USOC around the '02 Salt Lake City Games. In the statement, Emmert also recognized Shaheen for his work as interim Exec VP/Championships & Alliances, and Lewis stated, “Greg and I will be meeting over the next several days to discuss his role with the NCAA moving forward.” The NCAA had used Atlanta-based search firm Parker Executive Search in reviewing candidates and began publicly advertising for the job in December. Shaheen was a candidate for the position, but the uncertainty surrounding his future dominated conversations in New Orleans at the NCAA men's Final Four because he has established himself as the tournament’s guiding force, from negotiating media contracts to managing the hour-to-hour operations (THE DAILY).
REAX: The move by the NCAA drew several responses on Twitter. CBS Sports' Seth Davis wrote, "Hopefully Isch, Emmert and newly hired Mark Lewis will find role for Shaheen but if it's not running the tourney he should quit." SI.com's Stewart Mandel wrote, "Absolutely dumbfounded the NCAA ran off Greg Shaheen, head of the tourney -- you know, the one thing they do right." The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy wrote, "I've defended the NCAA on many occasions. Today's not one of those days. Replacing G Shaheen is ludicrous. Brilliant guy.” SI.com's Rob Dauster wrote, "The easiest way to tell that Greg Shaheen was good at his job is when every disagreeable writer covering college sports praises him.”
