Among the key goals of reorganizing the Division I governance structure was creating a system that works more efficiently and provides effective guidance to the presidents who serve on the Board of Directors. Many people believe the formation of a Leadership Council to study national issues is an integral part of achieving that goal.

Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans will be installed as the Council’s first chair at the group’s initial meeting in August. He shares his thoughts on how he thinks the Council will operate, the issues it will discuss and its importance to the future of the division.

How will the Leadership Council function?

The Council will serve in an advisory capacity to the Board. It will be a little more broad and far-reaching with regard to issues and initiatives it will take on, as compared to the old Management Council. We’ll be a bit more national in scope as opposed to dealing with campus and conference issues. And we won’t be dealing with as many legislative issues as the Management Council did, because we will have the Legislative Council to deal with those. We will have the opportunity to suggest various legislative concepts to be placed on that group’s agenda, but the Leadership Council’s agenda will be more national and strategic in scope.

What are some of the issues the Leadership Council will discuss?

Academic reform will continue to be a major topic, whether it’s a policy issue or not. Diversity also will continue as a significantly important issue. Student-athlete well-being also remains as a critical area. Some people might want to talk about postseason football, and you’re always going to have some things dealing with amateurism. Those would be some of the issues I see coming forward.

Are there any priorities for the new group?

I have in my mind some things that I think are significant, but I want to sit back and hear from other Council members and the rest of the membership and then we’ll set our priorities based on that. Anything dealing with academics and academic reform is significantly important in my mind. I just believe what we’re about is graduating student-athletes. We’ll look for different things to come forward, prioritize and move on.

How will the Council work with other groups?

I hope we can take certain things off the Board’s plate that can be dealt with at our level. We can do all the legwork for the presidents and make their job easier, especially in dealing with policy issues. With regard to the other groups, the cabinets and councils, we’ve got to listen to what they bring forward. We’ve got to rely on their expertise to help us get to where we want to be on certain issues. We’ve got to all be on the same page, especially on the Leadership Council. When you think of the term leadership, you’ve got to be a good listener. You’ve got to try to listen to what’s going on, gain an understanding of what’s pressing at the time and use the expertise of all the people involved in this governance structure. It’s all of us working hand in hand.

Why do you think people are so interested in serving on the Council?

Simply because they are passionate about the well-being of student-athletes and the well-being of our enterprise. Intercollegiate athletics is an extraordinary enterprise. It’s one that gives you so many opportunities to help young people grow and develop. That’s why I’m in this business, to see that young persons go out and be successful in any endeavor that they so choose. We’re part of an enterprise in which you have to be devoted and committed. I believe the individuals who have volunteered their time to work in this governance structure have a strong commitment to the well-being of student-athletes and a strong commitment to seeing us do what’s right in this industry. Operate with integrity. It can be trying at times when you’re operating within an educational system and all the complexities that go along with that, but at the same time, we all know how rewarding it can be if we do what we’re called on to do.

Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans, shown here talking with Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members at the 2007 NCAA Convention, chairs a new Leadership Council charged with providing strategic advice and direction to the Division I Board of Directors. Trevor Brown Jr./NCAA Photos