Former NCAA national office staff member Troy Arthur will return to familiar confines next week when he assumes responsibilities as director of diversity and inclusion at the Indianapolis headquarters.

Arthur, who will begin his new duties December 8, rejoins the national office from Learfield Sports, where since September 2006 he has been general manager for BCA Properties, a partnership between the sports marketing firm and the Black Coaches and Administrators.

At Learfield, Arthur was responsible for creating the BCA Properties business unit, which helped the BCA increase revenue; enhance its marketability, promotions and branding; and build new alliances with coaches and administrators. He also played a key role in Learfield’s diversity initiatives, including developing a diversity plan and leading diversity recruitment efforts for the firm.

However, the stint at Learfield is just one of a myriad experiences that Arthur feels has prepared him for his new role. Before his tenure at Learfield, he spent 10 years at the NCAA national office – four in membership services and six with the championships staff.

“Learfield prepared me well for this new challenge, not only to know what’s going on in higher education but also what’s going on in the corporate and private sector and being able to bring those two together to provide a different world view,” he said.

As director of diversity and inclusion, Arthur hopes to make a positive impact not only on current coaches and administrators, but also on student-athletes and others who are interested in entering intercollegiate athletics administration.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the national office and assisting the NCAA in its goals and objectives as they relate to diversity and inclusion,” he said.

Before his first NCAA term of service, Arthur worked for the Governor’s Partnership, a nonprofit organization in Connecticut that specialized in alcohol and other drug prevention and violence prevention at colleges and universities. He also has been with the National Black Caucus of State Legislatures, Citizens for Action in New Britain (Connecticut) and the New Britain Public School District. A former four-year starter and captain for the Central Connecticut State football squad, Arthur taught physical education and coached football and track and field while earning a master’s degree in public policy at Trinity (Connecticut).