Big 12 Conference names Bob Bowlsby new commissioner

Former Stanford athletic director will take over from interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas on June 15.

From Wire Reports | Published: May 2, 2012 Comment on this article

The Big 12 Conference has made it official, announcing the hiring of Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby as its new commissioner.

The league announced the hire on Thursday, a few hours after Bowlsby broke the news to his staff and coaches at Stanford. He will take over from interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas on June 15.

photo - Stanford head football coach Jim Harbaugh, right, and Stanford Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby, left, smile as they address the media during a news conference on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Stanford, Calif. The school announced a deal on Sunday that keeps Harbaugh under contract through 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) ORG XMIT: CATA104

Stanford head football coach Jim Harbaugh, right, and Stanford Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby, left, smile as they address the media during a news conference on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Stanford, Calif. The school announced a deal on Sunday that keeps Harbaugh under contract through 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) ORG XMIT: CATA104

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The 60-year-old Bowlsby spent the past six years at Stanford, helping it rebuild its football program into a national power. He will now take over a BCS conference that seems to have found some stability after losing four schools over the past two years. The league will head into this fall with 10 members, including new additions TCU and West Virginia.