The NCAA has selected Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker as its next president, succeeding Mark Emmert. Baker, who has been governor since January 2015 but will conclude his second term in January, will begin his new post March 1. He played power forward for Harvard's basketball team during the 1977-78 season, but has no previous collegiate administrative experience. He has spent most of his career in Massachusetts state government but spent a decade in health care administration. Baker, 66, holds degrees from both Harvard and Northwestern. In April, Emmert announced he would be stepping down. He has led the NCAA since November 2010 and in April 2021 had his contract extended through 2025. Emmert will remain in an advisory role until June. NCAA names MA Gov. Baker as next president
Most of the time leadership, or the lack thereof, is mostly responsible for the direction of an organization. Laziness at the top filters down quickly. I hope the new leader of the NCAA is proactive and even somewhat bold . . . but won't hold my breath waiting. LOL!
That, unfortunately, can be a double edge sword. Too much interference in the wrong way could make the NCAA overreach with stupid ideas. But something has to be done with this runaway NIL and pay to play clowns that are ruining college football. These new "agents" are just greedy lawyers that think they deserve to control college football.
I'm not a fan of when Thrasher was at FSU, Sasse to UF, nor Baker as NCAA President. Political ties are the only reason they got the jobs. For the most part, anything else on their resumes wouldn't have gotten them a second look. The focus seems to have shifted away from the educational aspect to turning the institutions into financial behemoths.
Personally, I thought they would have gone with a proven winner like Bobby Bowden. Great figurehead. Just as capable as the last couple of Presidents.
