JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 29 (UPI) -- Conference USA commissioner Mike Slive apparently will become the new boss of the Southeastern Conference.
The Florida Times-Union reported on its web site that Slive has been offered the job as SEC commissioner and is expected to accept it. The announcement could come as early as next week.
Slive would replace Roy Kramer, one of the most powerful figures in college sports who announced his retirement after 12 years on the job.
Slive is chairman of the NCAA's Infractions Appeal Committee, and the appointment would come at a time the conference is under fire. Two SEC football programs, Alabama and Kentucky, are on probation, and several other schools could face sanctions pending the outcome of investigations.
The commissioner of Conference USA since 1995, Slive is an attorney who once operated a firm that helped schools deal with penalties imposed by the NCAA.
While his tenure with the SEC has been a lucrative one for the conference, Kramer may best be remembered for devising the Bowl Championship Series for college football.
Kramer has been SEC commissioner since 1990, helping the league's exposure by negotiating multi-million dollar broadcast deals with CBS, ESPN and Jefferson Pilot.
During his stint, the league also has added Arkansas and South Carolina and instituted a conference championship game for football.
