The NCAA’s President Myles Brand has died from pancreatic cancer.  Brand was 67-years-old.  The news about Brand’s cancer was announced in January, but that did not stop Brand from battling through and continuing his job.  Brand will be remembered for his emphasis on academics, as he called for higher standards for student athletes and to put academics before winning.  He is also known for his great contributions as a university professor and university President of numerous institutions, most notably and recently Indiana University.

While President at IU, Brand vastly improved their information technology, making IU one of the top technologically equipped state schools in the country.  This helped improve enrollment and perception of the school.  Unfortunately what Brand is most known for while at IU was the firing of basketball coach Bobby Knight.  Whether it was the right move or not, Brand wanted to make sure the school did not show that they valued athletics over academics and that all IU personnel were going to be held to the same standards.   This firing did not go well with Hoosier nation and Brand was gone two years later.

Brand became the NCAA President that same year (2002).  The NCAA noticed Brand’s commitment to maintaining academic integrity in college athletics, something the NCAA’s perception lacked at the time.  Brand helped improve that perception and cleaned up a lot of corruption and illegal recruitment in college athletics.  Myles Brand was a strong and committed leader and he will be missed.