Michael Lawrence Slive (July 26, 1940 – May 16, 2018) was an American attorney and college sports executive. Slive was the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), a college athletics association, from 2002 until 2015.[1] As part of his role as the SEC Commissioner, he served as the coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2006 and 2007 regular seasons.[2] He was a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee through September 2009[3] and served as the chairman of the committee for the 2008–09 academic year.[4] He retired as commissioner effective July 31, 2015.[5]
Michael Slive | |
|---|---|
 Slive in 2008 | |
| Born | July 26, 1940 Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 16, 2018 (aged 77) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Education | B.A., Dartmouth College, 1962 J.D., Virginia, 1965 LL.M., Georgetown, 1966 |
| Occupation | Commissioner |
| Years active | 2002–2015 |
| Employer | Southeastern Conference |
Early life
editA native of Utica, New York, Slive graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1965 and an LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1966.
Career
editSlive became the seventh commissioner of the SEC on July 1, 2002. He was the first commissioner of Conference USA from 1995 to 2002, and the first commissioner of the Great Midwest Conference upon its founding in 1991.[6]
Early in his life, he practiced law in New Hampshire, serving as judge of the Hanover District Court from 1972 to 1977, and was a partner in a Chicago law firm. He was assistant director of athletics at Dartmouth College, assistant executive director of the Pacific-10 Conference, and director of athletics at Cornell University from 1981 to 1983. In 1990, he became senior partner and founder of the Mike Slive-Mike Glazier Sports Group, a legal practice specializing in representing colleges and universities in athletics-related matters.[6]
Death
editIn his later years, Slive battled prostate cancer. He died on May 16, 2018, age 77, in Birmingham, Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Liz, and their daughter, Anna.[7]
References
edit- ^ "SEC Commissioner Slive's Contract Extended". Southeastern Conference. September 15, 2005. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "BCS Governance". Bowl Championship Series. January 17, 2007. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee
- ^ "Slive Named NCAA Men's Basketball Committee Chair". Southeastern Conference. July 9, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Retirement announcement". Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ a b "Slive Named Southeastern Conference Commissioner". July 2, 2002. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ Stephenson, Creg (May 18, 2018). "Former SEC commissioner Mike Slive dead at age 77". al.com. Retrieved May 18, 2018.