Georgia Tech president G.P. “Bud” Peterson has will serve on the NCAA’s Division I board of directors, beginning his term in January. Peterson will be the ACC’s representative on the board, which is the NCAA’s legislative body for Division I.
Peterson will replace Wake Forest president Nathan Hatch, who has served as the board’s chair. Peterson will join the board at a particularly momentous time, as the NCAA is dealing with issues such as increasing the value of athletic scholarships and athletes’ rights to their likenesses.
The board’s authority has been reduced by its decision to grant limited autonomy to the power conferences over issues such as student-athlete welfare and health care. However, the NCAA board will have the challenge of passing legislation that satisfies both sides of what appears to be a growing divide between the power conferences and the rest of Division I. If the power conferences wanted further autonomy, that authority would also have to be granted by the Division I board.
Peterson was asked to serve by ACC commissioner John Swofford. It is a prestigious nomination; the 24-member board is charged with providing leadership for college athletics.
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