The Southeastern Conference extended Commissioner Mike Slive’s contract through July 31, 2012. Slive joined the conference in July 2002 after seven years as commissioner of Conference USA.

“Commissioner Slive has been an absolutely great addition to our conference,” said Lee Todd, president of Kentucky and the SEC. “He is providing great vision and directing the SEC to a new prominence in college athletics. I am thrilled we have locked him in to lead our conference for years to come.”

Slive’s accomplishments while with the SEC include brokering a ground-breaking broadcast-rights deal with CBS and ESPN that reportedly will bring in more than $2 billion over 15 years. He also championed academics and compliance issues.

“I am gratified that the presidents and chancellors have extended my contract, and I am honored to serve as the commissioner of the SEC said Slive. “We have accomplished many of our goals since my arrival in 2002, and there will be new challenges and goals to meet in the future. I look forward to these challenges as we continue to make the SEC one of the nation’s top intercollegiate athletic conferences.”

Before serving as Conference USA’s first commissioner, Slive was the first commissioner of the Great Midwest Conference. He holds degrees from Dartmouth, Virginia and Georgetown.