NCAA Senior Vice President of Policy and Governance Kevin Lennon announced his retirement Wednesday, effective Aug. 29. He is the longest-tenured national office employee, beginning his career with the NCAA in April 1986.
"Kevin was one of the first people I met when I became president of the NCAA. We discovered that he and I had been student-athletes at Harvard around the same time," Charlie Baker said. "While I had been unable to hold onto any job for more than 10 years, Kevin had become an increasingly important part of the NCAA's story for almost three decades. When I asked him to take on a newly created leadership role overseeing governance shortly after I arrived, he made clear to me that he would give it all he had, but he wouldn't commit in that moment to do it for the long term. He has delivered on both parts of his commitment. His leadership, steadiness and wide circle of colleagues and relationships has made the work we've done for the past two years much easier and better than it would have been without him. I wish him joy and happiness in whatever he chooses to do next and will continue to call him for guidance and advice."
Lennon was named to his current role in 2023. He serves as strategic advisor to Baker and leads the development of key policy initiatives to advance college sports and improve the lives of student-athletes. He supports the work of the three divisional and Association-wide governance groups and serves as the primary liaison for the Knight Commission.
Walter Harrison, president emeritus of the University of Hartford and former Division I Board of Directors and Executive Committee (now Board of Governors) chair, worked with Lennon extensively as chair of the Division I Committee on Academic Performance from 2004-14 and a Knight Commission member from 2014-22.
"I have worked with Kevin at the NCAA and the Knight Commission for the last 23 years, and he has always embodied for me the very best characteristics of the NCAA and collegiate sports, to which he has devoted his life's work," Harrison said. "Kevin was instrumental in one of the signature accomplishments of the NCAA, the so-called 'academic reform' movement that began in 2002.That effort intensified the NCAA's focus on making the experience of student-athletes truly an academic one which prepares them for careers and the role of citizens in a democracy long after their academic careers have ended.His compassionate and wise guidance helped to lead that effort, which changed the lives of tens of thousands of student-athletes."
University of San Diego President Jim Harris III, former Division I Board member and former chair of the Infractions Process Committee, also praised Lennon's commitment to student-athletes and college sports.
"At his core, Kevin Lennon is an educator who cares deeply about the success of student-athletes across the country," Harris said. "He is a compassionate and humble servant-leader who embodies the high ideals of intercollegiate athletics. It has been a privilege and a joy to serve with Kevin over the years."
Prior to this position, Lennon served as vice president of Division I governance beginning in 2015 and vice president of academic and membership affairs since 1998. Lennon also served as assistant commissioner at the Southwest Conference and worked at the University of Notre Dame. He holds degrees from Harvard University and Ohio University.
Lennon and his wife, Teresa, have three children and two grandchildren.