Pac-10 commissioner Hansen announces retirement date

Posted: Mon Jun 9 6:19 PM

Walnut Creek, CA (Sports Network) - The Pacific-10 Conference will be looking for a new commissioner in early July after Tom Hansen announced he will retire from the post effective July 1, 2009.

Hansen will end 26 years in the position, the longest term served by a commissioner of a Football Bowl Subdivision Conference.

The Pac-10 teams have won 204 NCAA championships during his tenure, the most won by any conference during that time. Hansen oversaw the inauguration of the Pac-10's nationally prominent women's sports programs, served an integral role in the creation and development of the Bowl Championship Series and the establishment of a strong lineup of bowl partners.

"Tom Hansen has led the Pac-10 for 25 years, through a remarkable period of accomplishment, winning more national championships than any other conference, as well as developing many new programs," said Stanford University president John Hennessey, who also serves as the current chair of the Pac-10 CEO Group. "We have been fortunate to have such a strong and capable commissioner."

Hansen won the NACDA Award for administrative excellence, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award and the foundation's Northern California Chapter Distinguished American Award.