NCAA Senior Vice-President Tom Jernstedt, a University of Oregon graduate, received the school's Distinguished Alumnus Award during Oregon's commencement ceremonies June 16.

The award -- the highest given by the Oregon Alumni Association -- honors the outstanding individual who has attained extraordinary distinction in his or her professional field or by personal endeavor.

Jernstedt, most known for his oversight of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship, began his career at the NCAA national office in 1972 as director of championships. At that time, the men's basketball tournament comprised a 32-team field, which has since doubled. Jernstedt was a key figure in the Association's most recent renegotiations with CBS on an 11-year, $6 billion television contract.

The Carlton, Oregon, native also was instrumental in the NCAA's establishment of women's championships in the early 1980s.

"To now look back and see 20 years later the involvement women have in the NCAA is exciting," Jernstedt said. "It's very rewarding to see the growth."

Jernstedt majored in political science and earned a master's degree in education from Oregon. He played football under former coach Len Casanova and was senior class president. After a brief stint in sales in California, Jernstedt returned to Oregon's athletics department in 1969 as an administrative assistant, athletics business manager and director of events for three years.

In addition to his service at the NCAA, Jernstedt is president of USA Basketball and serves on the boards of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Collegiate Sports Council. In 1999, Sporting News named Jernstedt one of the 100 most powerful people in American sports.