Former SEC commissioner Mike Slive dies

Former SEC commissioner Mike Slive, who saw a period of geographic and media expansion unmatched in college athletics, died Wednesday at age 77.

According to ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach, Slive’s death took place after a long illness.

“How ironic for me personally to be in the SEC meetings and then learn that Mike Slive passed away,” Georgia basketball head coach Tom Crean posted on Twitter. “He was my 1st Commissioner in Conference USA. He nurtured and guided me through many things as a new coach. A True Leader, Fighter, Builder and Visionary! A leadership Legend!”

Slive, the conference’s seventh commissioner, replaced Roy Kramer in 2002 and served until 2015. The addition of Missouri and Texas A&M took place under his watch, as did the creation of the SEC Network.

The conference enjoyed unparalleled success on the football field, winning seven straight BCS titles from 2005-2012.

Conference revenues skyrocketed during his time as commissioner, a trajectory that has continued under current commissioner Greg Sankey. According to SECsports.com, the conference’s revenue distribution for the 2016-17 school year was $596.9 million.

“He’s one of the finest minds I’ve ever been close to,” Sankey said in an SEC Network interview with Paul Finebaum. “He had a great mind and was a great thinker.

“Mike Slive changed the world.”

Prior to joining the SEC, Slive was the founding commissioner of the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA. He also founded a law firm that specialized in NCAA compliance issues.

Slive, who had battled prostate cancer, founded the Mike Slive Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research after he retired from the SEC commissioner’s office.

“Commissioner Slive was one of the most impactful leaders to positively shape intercollegiate athletics in its history,” Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne posted on Twitter. “So many universities, athletic departments and student-athletes benefited from his leadership and vision. He will be deeply missed.”

The native of Utica, New York, did his undergraduate work at Dartmouth and has law degrees from Virginia and Georgetown. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday in Birmingham, Alabama.