COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bernard Muir has been selected to participate as a member of the Collegiate Advisory Council, as announced today by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
The USOC announced the formation of the Collegiate Advisory Council to guide and strengthen Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level. The 11-member council is the first of its kind and represents the latest step taken by the USOC to increase collaboration with NCAA member institutions and conferences to elevate national engagement and support of Olympic sport opportunities.
Chaired by Kevin White, USOC board member, and vice president and director of athletics at Duke University, the Collegiate Advisory Council is charged with bridging the gap between high-contributing collegiate stakeholders and the Olympic Movement.
Through five seasons under Muir's leadership, Stanford has extended two of the most recognizable streaks in college athletics. In 2016-17, the Cardinal captured its 23rd consecutive Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, presented to the most successful intercollegiate athletic department in the nation. Meanwhile, Stanford has also won at least one NCAA championship in each of the last 41 seasons, the longest such streak in the nation.
The 2016-17 campaign was especially memorable, with Stanford claiming four NCAA titles for the first time since 2001-02 and five national championships overall. The Cardinal captured NCAA crowns in men's soccer, women's volleyball, women's swimming and diving and women's water polo, along with its seventh IRA women's lightweight rowing title in the past eight seasons.
During Muir's tenure, Stanford has won 10 NCAA championships, increasing its total to 113 overall and tying UCLA for the all-time lead in NCAA team titles. The Cardinal has compiled 137 national team championships overall.
The Collegiate Advisory Council is comprised of collegiate administrators who have personally advocated for broad-based Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level and represent institutions that have historically contributed to Team USA's success at the Olympic Games. Other Council members include:
Sandy Barbour, Penn State director of athletics
Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference commissioner
Greg Byrne, Alabama athletics director
Jay Jacobs, Auburn athletic director
Rob Mullens, Oregon athletic director
Chris Plonsky, Texas women's athletics director/executive senior associate athletics director for external services
Gene Smith, Ohio State senior vice president and athletic director
Scott Stricklin, Florida athletic director
Kevin White, Duke vice president and athletic director
Stan Wilcox, Florida State vice president and athletic director
Collegiate athletics are critical to Team USA's success with nearly 80 percent of 2016 U.S. Olympians – and 85 percent of American medalists – having collegiate ties.
The council convened last week in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to discuss current opportunities in the collegiate landscape. The group plans to outline key objectives and future course of engagement by the end of the year.