Bob Bowlsby, who has led the Big 12 since 2012 and most recently steered it through the chaos departure announcement of Texas and Oklahoma, will “resign from the Commissioner’s seat” later this year, the union announced Tuesday.
Bowlsby will continue to run the conference until a new commissioner is selected and will then transition to a new role in the federation office, the announcement said.
“After more than 40 years of taking on leadership roles in intercollegiate athletics, including the final 10 with the Big 12, and addressing the key issues that college sports in general and the Big 12 say alone will resolve over the next few years, I’ve made a natural transition point in my Commissioner’s tenure, as well as in my career,” Bowlsby said.
Last year, after Texas and Oklahoma – the two most prominent members of the federation – announced they would join the SEC, Bowlsby strengthened the federation and design the additions of BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston, who will join no later than the 2024-25 school year. Texas and Oklahoma have publicly said they will stay until the Big 12 rights expire in 2025.
“The Big 12 will soon attract four of our new members and negotiate new licensing and media rights agreements,” Bowlsby added in the statement. “I truly believe that the Big 12 and our member organizations are in a strong position now and as we look to the future. So this is the right time for me to step down from my role as Commissioner. member to become the next leader of the Conference can grasp these important issues will be at the forefront before the end of my employment contract in 2025 to set the stage for the future. continued success in the future of the Big 12.”
Bowlsby was appointed commissioner in 2012, after defecting from Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado and Texas A&M to other leagues. He added TCU and West Virginia and was able to maintain the Big 12’s role as a Power 5 alliance and restore the convention’s theme game in 2017.
During Bowlsby’s tenure, the Big 12 won 25 NCAA team national championships, including the former Kansas and Baylor men’s basketball championships.
The conference said a nationwide search would begin for its next commissioner in the coming weeks.
