Pac-12 Extends Larry Scott's Contract

The Pac-12 Conference today extended Commissioner Larry Scott's contract through the year 2016, and added options for further years.

"My fellow board members and I are delighted to have reached a long term agreement with the commissioner to continue his excellent work on behalf of the Pac-12," said Ed Ray, President of Oregon State University, and the Chairman of the Pac-12 Board.

"We are on the brink of a period of extraordinary accomplishment and excellence throughout the Pac-12 and Larry's continued leadership and vision for the conference are critical elements in realizing that potential."

Since Scott, 47, took over as Commissioner in July, 2009, he has guided the conference through their first expansion since 1978, which added Colorado and Utah, which facilitated the lucrative addition of a football conference championship game.

Scott has also orchestrated the rebranding of the Conference with messages of innovation, excellence, and the advantages of West Coast location at its core. He got equal revenue sharing of television revenue implemented, a first in Conference history, and secured the landmark media rights agreement with FOX and ESPN.

Scott also created the Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Digital Network, and is developing a globalization strategy that will allow the Conference to pursue new frontiers for athletic, academic and cultural exchanges in China, and eventually elsewhere in the Pacific Rim.

The move will at least ensure that when other corporate media entities come calling, they will have to be prepared to pay a larger price to pry Scott away from the conference.

Scott's moves have put all members of the conference in position to be more competitive in both revenue and non-revenue sports.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com