INDIANAPOLIS---Mike Bobinski, director of athletics at Xavier University, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. The appointment is effective September 1, 2008 and is a five-year term.
Bobinski was named director of athletics at Xavier in 1998 and remained in that role until June 2004, when he was named associate vice president of development for the university. Bobinski oversaw all fundraising efforts for Xavier, including annual and planned giving, major gifts, grant services and internal operations. He returned to the role of director of athletics in 2006. He has previously served on the NCAA’s Management Council and as president of the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association.
Bobinski has also been director of athletics at Akron University and associate director of athletics at the United States Naval Academy. In addition, he served as associate business manager at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater.
The 10-member committee consists of athletic directors and commissioners of Division I member institutions and conferences and oversees administration of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, including the selection, seeding and bracketing of teams for the tournament.
The committee is the primary NCAA contact with CBS Sports, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and other key basketball organizations. Committee members staff selected preliminary round sites, as well as the Final Four, and assign officiating crews for each game of the championship. The committee also serves as stewards for the good of the game, monitoring and taking action as appropriate regarding issues affecting college basketball.
“It’s truly an honor to be selected to serve on this committee,” said Bobinski. “College basketball occupies an important place in the intercollegiate athletics landscape and I hope to contribute in some way to its continued success through my service on the committee.”
Current committee members include chair Tom O’Connor, director of athletics at George Mason University; Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA; Jeff Hathaway, director of athletics at the University of Connecticut; Lynn Hickey, director of athletics at the University of Texas-San Antonio; Chris Hill, director of athletics at the University of Utah; Laing Kennedy, director of athletics at Kent State University; Jon LeCrone, commissioner of the Horizon League; Stan Morrison, director of athletics at the University of California-Riverside; Mike Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference; and Gene Smith, director of athletics at Ohio State University. Bobinski will replace LeCrone, whose term expires in August.
“Mike will be a great addition to the committee,” said Tom Jernstedt, executive vice president of the NCAA. “His knowledge of the game and his experience in athletics administration and as a member of the management council makes him an ideal person to serve the membership in this capacity.”
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