NEW YORK, N.Y. — The United States Olympic Committee’s Collegiate Advisory Council convened today in New York City to formalize its mission and operational procedures. As a result, the council’s key objectives and priority initiatives have been established.
“Today we agreed on a set of objectives and a structure for our work,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Our discussions reinforced the importance of working together to ensure the collegiate system remains strong, which will ultimately benefit the Olympic Movement, each institution and most importantly, our athletes.”
The CAC, which was formed by the USOC in October, aims to strengthen collaboration efforts between the collegiate athletic landscape and the Olympic Movement to support Team USA’s collegiate athletes and coaches. The council identified three initial focus areas:
- Celebrating Team USA’s collegiate footprint to sustain/grow support for collegiate Olympic sport programs.
- Promoting the value of Olympic sport programs and solidarity between Olympic and collegiate landscapes.
- Aligning pathways for student-athletes and coaches to strive for holistic excellence.
The council will work in concert with Olympic student-athletes and coaches, National Governing Bodies, NCAA officials and other stakeholders as it begins charting its course.
“As we begin our work together, it is essential the student-athlete and coach voices are heard and at the heart of our planning,” said Kevin White, USOC board member and vice president and Director of Athletics at Duke University. “Their perspective, as well as others, will be invaluable as we work together to smooth and strengthen the pathway to the podium.”
The CAC represents the latest high performance initiative taken by the USOC to increase collaboration with NCAA member institutions and conferences to elevate national engagement and support of Olympic sport opportunities. Chaired by White, the 10-member council is comprised of collegiate administrators who advocate for broad-based Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level and represent institutions that have historically contributed to Team USA’s success at the Olympic Games.
The CAC is comprised of collegiate administrators who have personally advocated for broad-based Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level and represent institutions that have historically contributed to Team USA’s success at the Olympic Games. Council members include:
- Sandy Barbour, Pennsylvania State University director of athletics
- Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference commissioner
- Greg Byrne, University of Alabama athletics director
- Jay Jacobs, Auburn University athletic director
- Bernard Muir, Stanford University athletic director
- Rob Mullens, University of Oregon athletic director
- Chris Plonsky, University of Texas women’s athletics director/executive senior associate athletics director for external services
- Gene Smith, The Ohio State University senior vice president and athletic director
- Scott Stricklin, University of Florida athletic director
- Kevin White, Duke University vice president and athletic director
- Stan Wilcox, Florida State University vice president and athletic director
Release courtesy United States Olympic Committee
