U.S. Olympic Committee Announces Formation of Collegiate Advisory Council

The United States Olympic Committee today announced the formation of a Collegiate Advisory Council to guide and strengthen Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level. The 11-member council is the first of its kind and represents the latest step 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 Kevin White, USOC board member, and vice president and director of athletics at Duke University, the CAC is charged with bridging the gap between high-contributing collegiate stakeholders and the Olympic Movement.

“We understand how unique and vitally important our American collegiate athletics system is to both higher education and the Olympic Movement, which is why increased collaboration is needed to sustain and elevate this system together,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “We are eager to map a course to work directly with collegiate leaders to support elite student-athlete opportunities on campus and within our national teams.”

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 and 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

Collegiate athletics are critical to Team USA’s success with nearly 80 percent of 2016 U.S. Olympians – and 85 percent of American medalists – having collegiate ties.

The council convened last week in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to discuss current opportunities in the collegiate landscape. The group plans to outline key objectives and future course of engagement by the end of the year.