Mike Slive, who as commissioner of the SEC for 13 years led the conference to profound financial success and strengthened its status in college sports, died Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala.
Slive was 77.
Slive was commissioner of the SEC from 2002-15. Among the big events was the launch of the SEC Network in August 2014 and the league’s expansion to 14 members with the additions of Missouri and Texas A&M.
While Slive was commissioner, SEC teams won seven consecutive BCS titles and won 81 NCAA championships, winning titles in 17 sports.
Slive was born July 26, 1940, in Utica, N.Y., and graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in 1962. He earned a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1965. He also was commissioner of Conference USA from 1995-2002.