Sun Belt announces signing of commissioner Keith Gill to contract extension – Crescent City Sports

NEW ORLEANS – Solar Belt Commissioner Keith Gill has agreed to a contract extension that may maintain him in that position by means of at the very least June 30, 2026, the Solar Belt Convention has introduced. Gill was named the Convention’s sixth commissioner on March 19, 2019.

“We’re happy to acknowledge Commissioner Gill’s management with this contract extension. His first yr as commissioner was interrupted by the arrival of the pandemic, which likewise consumed everything of his second yr. Regardless of that problem, Keith continued to steer the convention ahead, whereas additionally mitigating the influence of the pandemic,” acknowledged Dr. Damphousse, Arkansas State College Chancellor. “He managed the Solar Belt’s response to COVID-19, permitting all SBC student-athletes to finish their seasons throughout their conventional competitors calendar – no small accomplishment. As incoming President of the SBC Board of Administrators, I look ahead to working with Keith and his workforce as we broaden the aggressive success and visibility of our convention and its member universities.”

“In my position because the president of the Solar Belt Convention, I’ve had the pleasure of working intently with Keith Gill throughout his first two years as Commissioner,” added Dr. Savoie, President of College of Louisiana at Lafayette. “Keith has had a optimistic influence on a number of fronts – strengthening the convention, elevating our visibility, and offering essential management all through the pandemic. We’re happy to supply him a two-year extension and look ahead to the convention’s continued progress.”

“I’m grateful to Chancellor Damphousee, President Savoie, and the entire Solar Belt presidents and chancellors for extending my alternative to serve the convention as we offer invaluable experiences for our student-athletes and improve the visibility of all of our members,” stated Commissioner Gill. “I’m happy with the methods wherein our membership pulled collectively to permit all of our student-athletes to compete safely throughout their conventional seasons. We glance to proceed the momentum from our record-breaking 2020-21 tutorial yr.”

From the start, Gill established priorities for the Solar Belt Convention emphasizing the educational success and private improvement of student-athletes, implementing methods geared toward boosting the league’s aggressive success throughout all sports activities, and increasing the league’s nationwide profile by means of branding and inclusion initiatives. Gill guided the convention by means of the COVID-19 disaster and his management made it potential for the membership to securely full full seasons in all sponsored sports activities together with 79 of 80 common season convention soccer video games.

Gill’s work concerning racial inequity and inclusion included the launch of the BE THE CHANGE initiative in June of 2020, demonstrating to SBC student-athletes the worth of being civic minded all through their lives. The convention additionally established and inspired its groups and followers to go to the Solar Belt Convention Civil Rights Path, which highlights historic websites and landmarks discovered within the geographic footprint of its member colleges.

Earlier this yr, he was appointed to serve a five-year time period on the NCAA Males’s Basketball Committee by means of the 2025-26 season. Gill, the primary Black Commissioner in FBS historical past, additionally sits on the NCAA Division I Nominating Committee by means of 2024.

A 25-year veteran of intercollegiate athletics, Gill beforehand served as Govt Affiliate Commissioner on the Atlantic 10 Convention (2017-19) and the Director of Athletics at Richmond (2013-17) and American (2007-12). He additionally labored within the athletic departments at Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, together with two stints within the membership providers division on the NCAA nationwide workplace.

Gill graduated from Duke College as a four-year soccer student-athlete in 1994 and obtained his grasp’s diploma from Oklahoma in 2006.