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SEC picks Greg Sankey to replace Mike Slive as commissioner

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2015, file photo, Southeastern Conference executive associate commissioner Greg Sankey attends the NCAA's Autonomy Business Session during the final day of the NCAA Convention in Oxon Hill, Md. Sankey has been named the new commissioner of the SEC, the conference announced Thursday, March 12, 2015. Sankey will replace Mike Slive, who has served a commissioner since 2002 and announced last October that he will retire effective July 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2015, file photo, Southeastern Conference executive associate commissioner Greg Sankey attends the NCAA's Autonomy Business Session during the final day of the NCAA Convention in Oxon Hill, Md. Sankey has been named the new commissioner of the SEC, the conference announced Thursday, March 12, 2015. Sankey will replace Mike Slive, who has served a commissioner since 2002 and announced last October that he will retire effective July 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

By Associated Press March 12, 2015 1 min read

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Greg Sankey will replace the retiring Mike Slive as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos, the president of the SEC presidents and chancellors, announced Sankey’s appointment on Thursday. Slive, the SEC’s commissioner since 2002, said in October he would retire effective July 31.

Sankey is in his 13th year with the SEC and has served as the conference’s executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the league office since 2012. Before joining the SEC staff, Sankey was the Southland Conference commissioner for nearly seven years.

Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart headed the search committee that decided on Slive’s replacement. Gearhart said in a release, “Greg possesses all of the traits we were searching for in the next commissioner of the SEC.”