Longtime NCAA executive David Berst will retire from the Association this summer. Kevin Lennon, currently vice president for academic and membership affairs, will become the new vice president for Division I governance on Monday, April 6.
Berst began his career at the NCAA in 1972 as an entry-level enforcement employee. He spent 26 years in enforcement, eventually leading the department. After the NCAA announced in 1998 the national office would move from Overland Park, Kan. to Indianapolis, Berst was named vice president for Division I governance.
“David Berst’s service to the NCAA has been invaluable,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “The Association and its members will miss his breadth of knowledge, his honesty and integrity and most of all, his commitment to the students we serve. At the same time, I look forward to working with Kevin Lennon in his new role and am glad we have an experienced and proven leader in place to provide immediate continuity for the work ahead.”
Berst, who successfully led Division I through an intensive restructuring over the last two years, said the time was right to step away. He applauded the decision to make Lennon his successor.
“I am grateful for the long-time opportunity to immerse myself in complex problems facing intercollegiate athletics and to serve and work with so many highly talented people throughout the office, the membership and the public along the way,” Berst said. “I am pleased that Kevin will serve Division I governance moving forward. I have great confidence in his leadership.”
Lennon has nearly 30 years of experience at the NCAA. He was named vice president of academic and membership affairs in 1998. He had been an assistant commissioner at the Southwestern Athletic Conference and worked at the University of Notre Dame. He holds degrees from Harvard University and Ohio University.
Lennon’s primary responsibilities have been overseeing the work of the academic and membership affairs and student-athlete reinstatement staffs, including devising innovative solutions to complex problems and providing guidance and expertise in the areas of rules compliance and academics.
Donald Remy, chief legal officer and executive vice president of law, policy and governance, said Lennon would carry all those skills with him to continue the important work being done within Division I.
“Kevin has served college athletes for decades, and his support for athletics as a part of higher education is unwavering. His deep understanding of the issues and his key contacts within the Division I membership will serve him well as he guides the division into the future,” Remy said.
Lennon, who led one of the most high-profile departments within the NCAA for more than 16 years, said he looks forward to these new opportunities.
“We recognize that this is a challenging time for the division, and everyone in Division I wants to ensure we continue to provide student-athletes with the opportunity to graduate and compete at the very highest level in the NCAA,” Lennon said. “I have great confidence in the membership that we will address all of these issues together.”
In other staffing changes, Diane Dickman, managing director of academic and membership affairs, will join Lennon as managing director of Division I governance. An additional position will be created to assist with work generated by the new governance structure.
“I am very pleased Diane will join me in governance,” Lennon said. “We are excited to serve the membership as a team.”
Dickman joined the national office staff in 1996 after six years in athletics administration at the University of Tulsa. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tulsa. During her tenure at the national office, Diane has focused on the academic success of student-athletes and helped lead the Division I academic reform agenda. A former academic all-American as a golfer at Tulsa, Dickman also played on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour before beginning her career as an athletics administrator.
“As a former student-athlete, I am especially excited to serve the 175,000 Division I college athletes who strive at the highest levels of academic and athletic achievement,” Dickman said. “I look forward to working with the Division I membership to define the strategic vision and direction for Division I, consistent with the NCAA’s core values and mission.”
Oliver Luck, NCAA executive vice president for regulatory affairs, praised the move for the continuity it will provide.
“I’m very appreciative of the leadership Kevin and Diane have provided to the staff and members through the years, and I’m grateful they are moving into exciting new roles and not leaving the organization,” Luck said. “As we move forward, I am confident that both academic and membership affairs and Division I will continue to work together and look for new and innovative ways to serve our members.”
Luck will lead a national search to fill Lennon’s position.