The West Coast Conference has named Lynn Holzman Commissioner, filling the void left by Jamie Zaninovich, who leaves to become Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner later this week. Holzman had been with the conference as Exec Senior Associate Commissioner & COO and previously worked for 16 years in the NCAA's national office. She becomes just the third Commissioner in the WCC’s 62-year history (WCC). In San Jose, Jon Wilner writes Holzman does not have any "on-campus experience," nor has she worked "with men's basketball, the WCC's most important sport by an order of magnitude." Holzman also has not negotiated TV contracts in the past. Wilner: "Why ... given all that ... did the presidents pick her? ... Because Holzman has a deep knowledge of, and many contacts within, the NCAA." With the power conferences threatening to split and form a Division IV, it made sense to WCC presidents and chancellors "to select a commissioner who knows the system and the people in it." Wilner: "Undoubtedly, her background makes them feel more secure in turbulent times -- that she'll give the WCC the best chance to succeed when a new governance structure is created and implemented" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 6/10).
