Birmingham, Ala. -- Mike Slive, who served as the seventh commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, died Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 77.
Slive was the commissioner during a major time in college sports in which the SEC saw great success. He served in this position from 2002 until he decided to retire in 2015. He helped seek out the launch of the SEC Network, and expanded the conference by adding two more institutions.
"Mike Slive literally changed the world through his life. He was a friend before we worked together. He was a friend when we were colleagues," said current SEC Commissioner, Greg Sankey. "He remained a friend in his retirement as I succeeded him as commissioner. Today we all lost a friend. We will miss him for his work and especially for his compassion. Our prayers are with Liz, Anna, Judd and Abigail.”
The biggest part of his career in this position was winning seven consecutive Bowl Championship Series national titles in football. Overall, during this time, the SEC won 81 national championships. The brand of the SEC grew majorly during his term.
However, Slive's impact does not end with the SEC. He was the founding commissioner of the Great Midwest Conference and the Conference USA. He served as the first commissioner of both conferences.
He also was the founder of a law firm that was geared toward helping out NCAA schools and their compliance issues. Prior to his impactful career in college sports, Slive maintained a background of being an attorney and district court judge in New Hampshire.
Slive had a big impact on diversity in the SEC, by hiring the first ever African-American football coach in the SEC, Sylvester Croom, at Mississippi State. He also developed a database for minority coaches to help minorities get hired more overall in the sport of football.
Some of Slive's other positions in college sports include serving as coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series. Slive served as both the chair of Division I Men's Basketball Committee and the National Letter of Intent Steering Committee. He also served as the first chair of the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee.
Slive is also a survivor of prostate cancer, and founded the Mike Slive Foundation for Prostate Research when he retired. This foundation works to spread awareness and gain funding for cancer research.
Slive is survived by his wife of 49 years, Liz; his daughter, Anna; son-in-law, Judd Harwood; and granddaughter Abigail. He was born in 1940 in Utica, New York, and was the first in his family to graduate from college by earning his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth in 1962. He gained his law degree from the University of Virginia and his Masters of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center.
