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The term of Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott as the league’s top executive will end on June 30, the league said Wednesday night. Scott, 56, and the conference “came to an agreement” on the decision, even if his contract was to last until June 2022.
Scott has led the league since 2009, overseeing its expansion to 12 schools and helping launch the Pac-12 network. But, more recently, the league has faced a decline in prestige in men’s football and basketball as well as well-publicized financial problems.
“We appreciate Larry’s pioneering efforts in developing the conference by adding new competitive university programs and accelerating the parity of the Pac-12 television network with other conferences,” Oregon President Michael Schill said in a statement. “At one point, our television deal was the most lucrative in the country and the early days of the Pac-12 network helped deliver our championship brand to US and global markets on traditional and digital platforms. That said, the intercollegiate athletics market does not. stay static and now is the right time to call on a new leader who will help us develop our strategy for the future. “
Scott was the highest paid commissioner in college athletics at $ 4.8 million per year, which was higher than the combined salaries of Big Ten and SEC commissioners.
Asked about his legacy, Scott told CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, “I don’t know. That’s for others to say.”
Scott also said he “would take a break and reflect after 20 years in professional sports, 10 years in college. I’m excited for the next chapter.”
“It has been a great trip. I am very grateful,” Scott said. “I am truly honored to have served such distinguished universities. I was inspired by the student-athletes. I had a great team, and with our members I had the chance to do something unusual. to lead a transformation The conference is well positioned for the next televised contract Many changes are underway in varsity sports.
“I’m on my third contract. This had 18 months to go. We sat down with the idea of figuring it out. At the first meeting it became clear that our Presidents and Chancellors thought the time had come for a different direction. I expressed that it was a good time in my life for a change. It was pretty clear. Let’s go on, no reason to wait. They just asked me to wait until the end of the year. “
Throughout his tenure Scott was known for lavish spending. The conference reportedly paid $ 6.9 million in rent per year for its offices in downtown San Francisco. After the Pac-12 moved their basketball tournament to Las Vegas, The Oregonian reported that a resort casino forced Scott to use a 3,400 square foot suite.
Scott’s loss, ultimately, may have been the Pac-12 network. The 100% company, launched in 2012, suffered from distribution problems from which it was never able to fully recover. The network was simply never seen by enough viewers to make it viable because it could never close a distribution deal on DirecTV, one of the largest cable systems in the country.
Fans across the region have complained about not being able to see their teams; in 2015, the network was available in 90 million households, but only 15 million subscribed households.
His time was also marked by scandal. Scott has been criticized for essentially charging his lecture for coverage in the Los Angeles Times, and when the idea was revealed, the practice quickly stopped.
A nationwide search for Scott’s replacement “will begin immediately,” the league said in the statement.
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