NCAA Director of Division I Beth DeBauche will become commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference next month. The NCAA News sat down with DeBauche to talk about her experience at the national office and her new role at the OVC.

NCAA News: What are your three biggest goals for the conference?

Beth DeBauche: Getting to truly know the league must be my first step as I need to hear from the presidents, administrators, faculty and student-athletes regarding their priorities. Right now, I plan on focusing my attention for the conference in three areas. One is to help develop a consistent and strategic vision for  the OVC’s future so that we’re able to share that vision with our many constituents  to allow for a clear understanding of the OVC’s commitment to both the student-athletes and excellence in athletics and academics. Two, from a competitive standpoint, I hope we continue to raise the fine level of competition of the league. Three, I also want to be sure that we continue to manage programs that are committed to integrity and the academic success of student-athletes.

NCAA News: What do you see as the biggest challenges in your first year?

DeBauche: The same as those shared by the other 31 multisport conferences in these difficult economic times, which is being able to manage programs that strive for excellence both on the playing fields and in the classroom while still maintaining a sense of fiscal responsibility in keeping with the values of higher education. We must view these difficult times as an opportunity to identify our values and think creatively about how we want to manage intercollegiate athletics in the future. 

NCAA News: How do you think your national office experience will influence you in your new role?

DeBauche: I have gained so much from my seven years at the national office as I have been able to learn from and work with some of the best minds in intercollegiate athletics. I am privileged to have worked with all of our primary governance bodies in Division I, and I helped manage the Division I agenda. As a result of this unique experience, I have a keen understanding of the big issues facing intercollegiate athletics.  I understand both the political landscape of Division I and the internal workings of the national office.  I certainly plan on sharing that information in the conference setting – it is almost like having an insider’s guide to the national office and how Division I works.

NCAA News: The OVC is known for its basketball. How will you shine a spotlight on football?

DeBauche: This is an exciting time for FCS football with the expansion of the bracket, increasing FCS membership and a change in the championship date. In the OVC, we need to build on this excitement. The conference, with its 62-year history, has a fine tradition in football. Our member institutions are located in a part of the country that celebrates and understands college football. We need to make a concerted effort to promote the fact that the OVC plays quality football and highlights what is good about intercollegiate athletics. We need to make it clear that OVC football programs are good local partners and our contests are enjoyable experiences for both fans and student-athletes.

NCAA News: In recent years, the composition of conference commissioners in all three NCAA divisions has become more diverse. Julie Ruppert (Northeast-10), Dell Robinson (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and Bernadette McGlade (Atlantic 10) are examples. To what do you attribute this trend?

DeBauche: I understand the need to ask the question, but I hope that it won’t be a question in years to come because valuing a diverse environment will be just part of who we are in intercollegiate athletics.

I view the recent hirings as a sign that intercollegiate athletics is making positive gains in enhancing the level of diversity, and that certainly bodes well for our future. I am certainly glad to be mentioned with the likes of Julie, Dell and Bernadette, and it should be noted that the skills required of a conference commissioner are not specific to gender or ethnicity. I hope these recent hiring decisions help send the message to student-athletes that intercollegiate athletics truly provides for an inclusive environment that values a rich variety of opinions, perspectives and backgrounds.

NCAA News: You started out as an attorney. What made you choose athletics as a career path?

DeBauche: When I was working as a practicing attorney, I met someone who worked in intercollegiate athletics who took an interest in me and recommended me into the profession. What that taught me is how easily you can positively influence someone’s career by sharing a few nice words of encouragement. I fervently believe that we all have an obligation to help mentor and nurture young administrators because I know first-hand how important my mentors were in directing me to this wonderful profession.  Fortunately, making the career shift was not difficult, as the skills needed to be a practicing attorney are not that different than those needed to be a successful athletics administrator. As an attorney, you are an advocate and a problem-solver, and as an athletics administrator you really focus advocating on behalf of student-athletes and on solving problems as well. I feel privileged that as an athletics administrator, my clients are now the presidents, other administrators, faculty and student-athletes of our member institutions. 

NCAA News: You’ve worked at the campus level, the conference level and the national office. Why was the time right for a change?

DeBauche: I enjoyed working at all three levels and have gained different skills and perspectives as a result of these experiences. The administrator I am today is a reflection of the broad ranges of experiences I have gained and the people I have come to know working in all areas of intercollegiate athletics. I think my skills and experience suit me well for working in a conference setting because in a conference office, you interface regularly with the member institutions and the national office, so it represents a nice blend.  I have been very happy working as a member of the national office staff, but a chance to serve as the commissioner of the OVC presented an opportunity to accept new challenges that I just could not pass up.  

NCAA News: What will you miss most about the national office?

DeBauche: I will miss a great deal, but I won’t miss crossing the bridge in the winter as I walked into work. Seriously, I will miss the outstanding national office staff, my terrific mentor David Berst and the many wonderful friends I have made over the years. I will also miss working regularly with the dedicated representatives serving within the governance structure and being part of the conversations at the Board, Council and cabinet levels that help shape the future of Division I.

I trust that in my new role the relationships I have developed will be maintained and I will still have an opportunity to serve Division I and be part of the important dialogue about our future.