The Pac-12 has gone outside the box in order to get back on track, hiring MGM executive George Kliavkoff as commissioner of the struggling conference.
Kliavkoff, 54, oversees MGM’s sports and entertainment division and has partnered with the Pac-12 on events in Las Vegas.
He is also a board member at BetMGM.
While working for Major League Baseball in the early 2000s, he oversaw the development of Baseball Advanced Media (BAM), the highly successful internet arm of MLB.
“One of the most creative thinkers I know,” a conference source said of Kliavkoff. “He has a great media background and is partner-oriented in his approach.”
Added another source: “It’s a really intriguing decision. It’s certainly on the higher end of the risk spectrum, but how do you assess the risk of a move that would just cement the status quo?”
Kliavkoff signed a five-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.
The decision is sure to generate intense reaction from Pac-12 fans and skepticism within the college sports world, for Kliavkoff has no experience working on college campuses or a background in college football.
But the Pac-12 presidents were no doubt attracted to Kliavkoff’s success in business development and innovation and reputation for collaboration.
He has served on the WNBA’s Board of Governors.
“At each step of his career, George has navigated complex, quickly changing environments and has been a successful consensus builder,” said Oregon president Michael Schill, who chairs the CEO Group. “George is a visionary leader with an extraordinary background as a pioneering sports, entertainment and digital media executive.
“He is the new prototype for a sports commissioner. While George has deep sports experience, his biggest asset is his ability to listen, connect with diverse groups, find common ground, collaborate and navigate an evolving landscape. We believe George’s overall skills and experience will become even more prevalent in college sports leadership.”
Former West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck was a finalist, according to sources.
Kliavkoff, who attended Boston University and has a law degree from Virginia, replaces Larry Scott, whose 12-year tenure has come under intense criticism in recent years following off-the-field controversies and on-the-field losses.
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Kliavkoff faces steep challenges on numerous fronts within the Pac-12, all while external forces — including compensation for athletes through the use of their Name, Image and Likeness — threaten to change college sports forever.
He must repair a fragile relationship between the conference office and the campuses that has existed for more than a decade, especially with regard to football operations and administration.
“George has the personality and genuine love of college sports to bring the league together,” said West Coast Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez, who has worked with Kliavkoff directly.
What’s more, he must take whatever steps are necessary to strengthen Pac-12 football and push for the expansion of the College Football Playoff.
He must plot a strategy for the next media rights contract, determine the future of the Pac-12 Networks and decide whether the conference office will remain in San Francisco.
Above all, the next commissioner must generate cold, hard cash.
“Future financial growth and stability,” a conference source said when asked about the No. 1 priority.
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