Knight Commission calls for widespread reform of NCAA

In the wake of public scrutiny surrounding an ongoing FBI probe into men’s basketball, members of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics called for widespread reform of the NCAA.

Using the recent report from the NCAA’S Commission on College Basketball as a catalyst, the group urged university leaders to take this moment as an opportunity to make changes to NCAA governance to “restore public faith in the governing body’s ability to oversee major revenueproducing college sports.”

The Knight Commission made the recommendation Monday following discussions from its members, who are academic and athletic leaders.

“The Commission on College Basketball rightly emphasized that ‘the NCAA administers what is effectively a public trust in the United States – athletic competition among college athletes,’” said Commission cochair Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education. “But it’s an open question if the NCAA can restore public confidence in its ability to be stewards of bigmoney college sports. To do so, it will need to embrace far more sweeping and deep-seated reform than ever before.”

The Commission on College Basketball, which was chaired by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, released a scathing report last month calling for widespread changes in response to an FBI investigation into corruption and fraud in college basketball last fall.

The Knight Commission proposed the NCAA move away from its current membership association model to one that incorporates outside leaders. That includes potentially adding six independent directors to the NCAA’S Division I Board of Directors, a group in charge of policies involving revenue sports such as college football and basketball.

The group came up with a three-step proposal:

“Governance: Add at least six independent directors to the 24-member Division I Board of Directors, now comprised solely of institutional representatives, with an ultimate goal of a majority of independent directors.

“Integrity and financial transparency: Adopt new and more stringent approvals, terms of conditions, and financial disclosures for income that NCAA institutions and their employees – particularly coaches – receive from shoe, equipment, and apparel companies.

“Student-athlete education and development: Develop minimal professional standards that NCAA coaches will be required to meet to ensure they are prepared for their roles as educators and leaders in the development of student-athletes.”