Pac-12 announces Teresa Gould as new commissioner amid conference restructuring

The Pac-12 conference in US collegiate sports has announced Teresa Gould as its incoming commissioner, succeeding George Kliavkoff who steps down at the end of February.

Teresa Gould, presently serving as the deputy commissioner, will take the helm as the first female commissioner of a major ‘power five’ conference in the United States effective March 1.

This leadership transition arrives at a crucial juncture for the Pac-12, which now consists of only two member colleges – Oregon State University and Washington State University – following a legal resolution with 10 former members last December. Consequently, these two institutions wield full authority over the league’s decision-making processes.

The Pac-12 is currently in pursuit of a new domestic broadcast agreement for the upcoming 2024-25 collegiate season, while its former members have dispersed among the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC conferences.

Having joined the Pac-12 in 2018, Teresa Gould has played a prominent role in overseeing the conference’s governance, operations and championship events.

Commenting on the appointment, Washington State president Kirk Schulz stated, “Teresa’s deep knowledge of collegiate athletics and unwavering commitment to student-athletes makes her uniquely qualified to help guide the Pac-12 Conference during this period of unprecedented change in college sports.

“As the first female commissioner of an Autonomy Five conference, Teresa will be able to bring new perspectives and fresh ideas to the table as the industry works to find its way through this shifting landscape.”

“The challenges we face must be met head on, with a reinvigorated energy to transform and forge ahead.”

Teresa Gould named Pac-12 commissioner, becoming the first woman commissioner of a Power 5 conference

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— CNN Sports (@cnnsport) February 20, 2024

In her statement, Teresa Gould added, “I look forward to partnering with Oregon State and Washington State to secure a bright future for their student-athletes that allows them to compete at the highest level of college athletics while enjoying the benefits of a quality campus experience.

“We find ourselves navigating an extraordinarily complex time in our industry. The challenges we face must be met head-on, with reinvigorated energy to transform and forge ahead.”

Additionally, the Pac-12 recently expanded its collaboration with sport-focused platform FuboTV, marking Fubo’s inaugural marketing partnership with a collegiate sports entity.