Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky "is stepping down" after 13 years to become CFP Foundation Exec Dir, according to Sean Isabella of the Monroe NEWS-STAR. Banowsky in '02 "became just the second commissioner in the history of C-USA," succeeding Mike Slive. Banowsky will "stay in his current post until the league determines his successor." The C-USA BOD "will meet in September and again in October to select a new commissioner." Banowsky helped "orchestrate several changes during his tenure like adding a conference championship game" in football in '05 along with conference realignment (Monroe NEWS-STAR, 7/17). In Norfolk, Ed Miller notes Banowsky "oversaw a near-wholesale change in his tenure." Seven schools left C-USA "during the realignment frenzy of the past two years," while nine schools joined. Southern Miss and UAB are the "only remaining members from when Banowsky was hired." Among the issues facing Banowsky's successor is the "negotiation of a new television contract," as C-USA’s deal with Fox Sports expires June 30. The league also is "looking to raise its men’s basketball profile," as no C-USA team "received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament the past three seasons" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 7/17).
LEADERS CAUGHT OFF GUARD: In West Virginia, Derek Redd reports Marshall AD Mike Hamrick "admitted he was a little surprised" when Banowsky called to tell him of his plans. But he "understood that Banowsky was following one of his passions." Hamrick: “Britton is one of those guys where he likes to start and grow things. He loves doing that and he has great experience with all of the changes in Conference USA.” In Hamrick’s mind, Banowsky’s "leadership is the reason there remains a Conference USA for him to exit." Hamrick: “Every time you thought Conference USA was done, it came back stronger" (CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, 7/17). Western Kentucky AD Todd Stewart said, "It's not often in this business that you're completely caught off-guard by something. I was just trying to absorb and process everything, because I literally had no idea that this was coming or that was what we were going to talk about." WKU President Gary Ransdell added that Banowsky's exit was "'not on my radar,' despite the two's friendship going back to Ransdell's time as the Sun Belt Conference representative on the BCS Oversight Committee" (BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS, 7/17).
