On the same day the settlement was approved opening the door for college athletes to receive millions of dollars in revenue from schools, the head of the enforcement arm of college sports’ brave new world was selected.
Major League Baseball executive Bryan Seeley has been named the CEO of the newly formed College Sports Commission, with the move being made official Friday night.
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Under the new system created by the $2.8 billion antitrust settlement, the CSC will serve a regulatory role similar to what the NCAA did under the amateur model, overseeing NIL contracts, determining when rules have been broken and handing out punishments to offenders.
REQUIRED READING: What does the NCAA settlement mean for college sports? We answer the burning questions
Seeley was hired for the role by the commissioners of the Power Four conferences, as well as a group of athletic directors. He’ll report directly to the commissioners of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12.
“Bryan brings unwavering integrity and a wealth of relevant experience to his new role leading the College Sports Commission and working to ensure a smooth implementation of this new system,” a joint statement from the Power Four commissioners said. “We’re grateful to have an individual with his credentials and expertise at the helm, and we look forward to his leadership as we transition into this new era of college sports.”
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The CSC is scheduled to begin its duties on July 1.
While Seeley will suddenly become one of the most powerful and influential people in college sports, he’s a relative unknown in college athletics, having not previously served as an athletic director or university president.
As he’s set to take over at the CSC, here’s a closer look at Seeley and his background:
Bryan Seeley career
Seeley steps into his new position at the College Sports Commission after an 11-year stint with Major League Baseball, where he most recently worked as the executive vice president, legal & operations.
As part of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s leadership team, Seeley oversaw investigations and enforced rules into hot-button issues legalized sports gambling. He led MLB’s probe into sign-stealing, which led to punishments for the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. He also oversaw investigations into sexual assault allegations levied against former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco.
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During part of his tenure with MLB, Seeley worked alongside Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti.
“Bryan is an exceptional choice to lead the College Sports Commission,” Manfred said in a statement. “During his time at MLB, Bryan demonstrated unparalleled integrity, a commitment to fairness, and the ability to navigate complex challenges with precision and care. I have no doubt he will bring the same level of excellence to the College Sports Commission. College sports will greatly benefit from Bryan’s expertise and vision.”
According to the CSC’s release, Seeley will begin with the organization “in the near future.”
Seeley’s work with MLB was a continuation of an extensive law enforcement background.
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Before leaving in 204, Seeley served for eight years as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. There, he prosecuted federal white-collar crime cases from 2010-14 and, before that, violent crime and property related cases in the D.C. Superior Court from 2006-10.
His stint in Washington also included a one-year temporary detail as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee from 2012-13.
Seeley has a bachelor’s degree from Princeton and a law degree from Harvard.
“I am honored to serve as the first CEO of the College Sports Commission at this pivotal moment in the history of collegiate athletics,” Seeley said in a statement. “I look forward to implementing a system that prioritizes fairness, integrity, and opportunity, while preserving the values that make college sports unique. I am energized by the work ahead and excited to begin building out our team.”
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REQUIRED READING: College sports enters new era after NCAA settlement, but it won’t work if schools cheat
What is the College Sports Commission?
The College Sports Commission is, according to its website, an organization “overseeing the new system that allows schools to share revenue directly with student-athletes and ensures that NIL deals made with student-athletes are fair and comply with the rules.” The CSC adds that it will “facilitate more opportunities than ever before for student-athletes to benefit from their participation in intercollegiate athletics” while bringing “much-needed stability and structure to college sports.”
Though they will collaborate in certain areas, the CSC is separate from the NCAA, with both bodies operating as independent entities. While the NCAA will primarily regulate rules of the game, academic and athletic eligibility and sports betting, among other things, the CSC will focus on overseeing compliance of rules that have been birthed by the House settlement, like roster limits, revenue sharing and athlete NIL deals.
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According to the CSC’s release announcing Seeley’s hiring, the organization will:
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Educate athletes and schools about the new rules, how to comply with them and how to use the new technology systems the CSC will put into place
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Investigate potential rules violations
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Issue penalties when appropriate
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Participate in the neutral arbitration process set forth in the House settlement
Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski told ESPN in March that rules enforcement in the new era of college sports will have to be more efficient than it was during the NCAA’s watch.
“We’ve screwed this thing up now to the point where we have to be willing to draw a line in the sand, and that will create some pain,” Bobinski said. “There’s no two ways about it, and we’ll find out who’s just going to insist on stepping over the line. But if they do, you got to deal with it forcefully and quickly.”
In his role as CEO, Seeley will build out the CSC’s investigative and enforcement teams, as well as oversee its operations.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Bryan Seeley? MLB exec is CEO of newly created College Sports Commission
