Keith Gill, the Executive Associate Commissioner of the Atlantic-10 Conference, has been named the new Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference.  He replaces Karl Benson, who will retire at the end of the athletic year.

Gill becomes the first African-American Commissioner of an FBS Conference.

“I am honored and excited to have been selected as the Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference and I am grateful to President Becker and all of the Sun Belt presidents and chancellors for allowing me this opportunity,” said Gill.  “I look forward to serving and working with them, their outstanding institutions, the administrators and coaches of the conference and the student-athletes that continue to push the Sun Belt to the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics.”

Gill has been involved in intercollegiate athletics for 25 years and previously served as Athletic Director at American University and at Richmond.  He has also served as Assistant Athletics Director at Vanderbilt and Senior Associate Athletics Director at Oklahoma.

“On behalf of the Sun Belt Conference’s presidents and chancellors, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Gill as the next commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference,” said Georgia State and Sun Belt President Dr. Mark P. Becker.  “Keith is a proven leader with deep experience across the many dimensions of intercollegiate athletics.  Combining that with his passion, integrity and enthusiasm, Keith will be an outstanding leader as the Sun Belt continues on its rising trajectory.”

It was mutually agreed that GIll will officially begin his new role on May 1. Gill is the sixth Commissioner in Sun Belt history.

 

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