Texas Tech University Athletics
Big 12 Hires Commissioner
June 21, 1999 | General
October 8, 1998
DALLAS, Texas - Kevin L. Weiberg, Deputy Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, was selected as the second Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference Thursday by the Big 12 Board of Directors.
Hired at the Big Ten on August 1, 1989, as Associate Commissioner/Chief Operations Officer, he has worked in conference operations for almost 10 years prior to his Big 12 appointment. He was promoted in August, 1998, to Deputy Commissioner of the Big Ten under Commissioner James E. (Jim) Delany.
Weiberg, 42, born July 7, 1956, is a native of Anthony, Kan., and expressed excitement about the announcement Thursday.
"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to serve as Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference," he said. "I think it's a great and very competitive conference, and I appreciate the confidence shown in me by the Presidents and Chancellors.
"I'm looking forward to working with the CEOs (who form the Board of Directors), the Directors of Athletics, the Faculty Athletics Representatives, the Senior Woman Administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and all the support staffs of the Big 12 Conference."
The new Commissioner will work with Interim Commissioner Dave Martin, who also serves as Associate Director of Athletics at Oklahoma State University, in the transition period before Weiberg takes over in early, January, 1999. Martin's tenure, which began in April, 1998, will continue through Jan. 1, 1999.
Weiberg earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Kansas State University in 1978 and Master of Science degree in Athletics Administration from Western Illinois University in 1979.
His professional career began with a 1979-1980 post as Sports Information Director at Wayne State (Neb.) College, and then he moved to Wichita State University from 1980-87. He was Sports Information Director at WSU from 1980-83, was promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for marketing and fund raising from 1983-86 and became Associate Director of Athletics in 1986-87. In the latter capacity he oversaw all external relations, including marketing, fund raising and media relations.
Weiberg became Associate Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland from 1987-89. He served as Chief of Staff and was responsible for supervising revenue sports programs.
The 18-year college administrator and conference official was praised by Big 12 Board of Directors Chair Chancellor Dr. Robert Hemenway of the University of Kansas for multiple skills and qualifications.
"The decision of the Board of Directors was unanimous," Hemenway said. "Clearly, Kevin Weiberg has a vision of intercollegiate athletics at this point as we near the end of the 20th Century, and this commitment and vision are shared by the Big 12 Board.
"During the interview process he expressed innovative ideas," added Hemenway, "and he has a broad range of experience in financial operations, television contracts, the inner workings of major conferences, women's athletics, and gender equity."
The Kansas Chancellor indicated that Weiberg had signed a three-year contract.
"I cannot divulge the compensation," said Hemenway, "but I can say that he will be paid in a manner that is appropriate for a Commissioner of one of the nation's top athletics conferences.
"Kevin is extremely articulate," he said, "and he is a strong family man who has been married for 22 years with three children. He is a person of absolute, impeccable integrity, and he is relatively young with a spirit of youth and vigor that it takes to excel on this level. He has a strong energy level, and these positions, like university presidents and chancellors, require a great amount of energy.
"The Big 12 wants to thank the executive search firm of Heidrick and Struggles of Chicago for its great help and diligence," added Hemenway. "This firm, and our contact Bill Bowen, have taken part in executive searches for business and athletics' leaders, and we were pleased with the way in which the firm followed our premise that we wanted the best person in the country for this job.
"Kevin comes from a conference like the Big 12 in that the Big Ten has football and basketball product as well as women's athletics programs that are very marketable and competitive nationally," Hemenway said. "He has been in a very successful conference, and he has established contacts with networks and corporate sponsors.
"We had two superb candidates that we interviewed Wednesday in Kevin and Terry Holland (Director of Athletics at the University of Virginia)," Hemenway noted, "and we were pleased with the quality of applicants. The Big 12 Conference is poised to continue its outstanding position nationally in intercollegiate athletics."
Weiberg, in addition to being a Kansas State graduate, has some outstanding athletics' and Big 12 ties besides the major role that he played in Big Ten Conference governance and financial matters.
His brother, Mickey Weiberg, was assistant basketball coach at Oklahoma State in 1985-86 and is currently head coach at Northern Oklahoma College. Weiberg's nephew, Chad Weiberg, is coordinator of the Oklahoma State Posse student booster group. Another nephew, Jared Weiberg, is a walk-on basketball student-athlete for coach Eddie Sutton's OSU Cowboys' 1998-99 basketball squad. He was sports information director for recently-retired Joe Carter of Baltimore Orioles and World Series fame when Carter played at Wichita State.
Kevin Weiberg is married Susan K. Latta (Aug., 12, 1976), and they have three children: daughters Erika (12), Jenna (9) and son Garrett (7).
Big Ten Conference Commissioner James E. Delany quotes on newly appointed Big Twelve Commissioner Kevin L. Weiberg, former Big Ten Deputy Commissioner:
"This is a terrific hire for the Big Twelve Conference and a great opportunity for Kevin. Kevin has spent approximately half of his career here at the Big Ten involved in all phases of our planning and executing
and he's spent the other half of his career as an associate athletic director. With his background, he has a great understanding of all phases of intercollegiate athletics and is very effective in his dealings with everyone from university presidents, athletic administrators and faculty representatives to coaches and student-athletes.
"We are sad to lose him, but at the same time, we're excited about his opportunity to continue to make contributions to intercollegiate athletics through the Big Twelve Conference Commissioner's position.
"Kevin has tremendous integrity and a tremendous experience base. He has great vision of the potential that intercollegiate athletics has to impact higher education."
