Cedric Dempsey

Cedric Dempsey
Biographical details
Born (1932-04-14) April 14, 1932 (age 92)
Equality, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
Football
c. 1953Albion
Basketball
?–1954Albion
Baseball
?–1954Albion
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1959–1962Albion
1963–1965Arizona (assistant)
Cross country
1959–1962Albion
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1965–1967Arizona (assistant AD)
1967–1979Pacific (CA)
1979San Diego State
1979–1982Houston
1983–1993Arizona
1994–2002NCAA (president)
2007–2010AAFL (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall29–35 (basketball)

Cedric Warren Dempsey (born April 14, 1932) is a sports administrator who became the third executive director of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 1994 to 2003.[1] Before leaving the post in 2002, Dempsey restructured the organization, cracked down on gambling in college sports, emphasized financial responsibility and negotiated major television contracts with ESPN and CBS.[2]

Dempsey served as the athletic director at the University of the Pacific (1967–1979), San Diego State University (1979), University of Houston (1979–1982) and the University of Arizona (1983–1993). Dempsey's tenure at Arizona was noted for raising the university's national prominence in NCAA sports, particularly in basketball, football, softball and golf.[3] He also served as Commissioner of the All American Football League (2007–2010).[4]

  1. ^ Thomas, Robert McG. (November 5, 1993). "N.C.A.A. Selects Arizonan As Director". New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  2. ^ "NCAA can be trusted now, thanks to Dempsey". Arizona Daily Star. January 16, 2002.
  3. ^ Robbins, Danny (November 3, 1993). "NCAA Will Name Dempsey as Director College sports: Arizona athletic director picked to replace Schultz as head of governing body". Los Angeles Times. p. C2.
  4. ^ "Biographical note on Cedric Dempsey". infoplease.