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Report: Stanford AD Bob Bowlsby to be named Big 12 commissioner

BobBowlsby

As the cards continue to be shuffled during the realignment of college sports, the Big 12 has made a major move.

ESPN first reported and other outlets have confirmed that the Big 12 is set to hire Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby as its next commissioner.

The 60-year old Bowlsby has been at Stanford since 2006, previously serving as the athletic director at Iowa from 1991-2006 and Northern Iowa from 1984-91.

He was named the head of the NCAA Selection Committee in 2006 and was part of the US Olympic Committee for the 2008 Games in Beijing. He has even been recognized by the President of the United States, being named to the Commission on Opportunities in Athletics in 2002-03.

Former Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe left the post in September, in what reports called a “mutual agreement.”

Bowlsby now takes over for interim commissioner Chuck Neinas.

According to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com, the league could expand under Bowlsby’s watch, perhaps targeting Louisville or Notre Dame.

The league currently has 10 members, following the addition of West Virginia and TCU this past year. As McMurphy points out, the conference could expand to 11 or 12 teams for “stability reasons,” but some want the league to retain just 10 schools.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_