The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) traces its roots to 1913, when eight of Wisconsin’s normal schools formed the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin. As these schools became state universities, the conference evolved into the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC), upholding a tradition of competition, academic integrity, and sportsmanship. In 1971, the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) was created, expanding competitive opportunities for women and fostering leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. In 1997, the WSUC and WWIAC merged to form the modern WIAC, uniting Wisconsin’s public universities under a highly competitive and nationally recognized conference.
Today, the WIAC is a premier NCAA Division III conference, uniting eight public universities and more than 5,000 student-athletes committed to excellence in athletics, academics, and personal growth. The conference continues to develop outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, excelling in championships, academics, and community impact. With more than 400,000 alumni and a culture that blends tradition with innovation, the WIAC remains a standard-bearer for athletic and educational excellence across the state.
As the nation’s most successful Division III conference, WIAC has won 135 NCAA team national championships and 195 total NCAA and non-NCAA titles. In the 2024–25 Learfield Directors’ Cup, all eight member institutions ranked in the top 101 — including one school finishing 6th nationally — and WIAC teams captured five NCAA national championships across men’s cross country, track & field, women’s ice hockey, and baseball. Across sports, WIAC athletes consistently earn All-America honors, academic awards, and community leadership recognition. Supported by innovative programming, strong partnerships, and the WIAC Network, the conference continues to attract talented student-athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate fans.
About the Position
Reporting directly to the Council of Chancellors, the Commissioner serves as the Conference’s chief administrative officer, providing strategic leadership aligned with the WIAC’s mission and values. The role holds broad authority over daily operations, Conference initiatives, and long-term growth. The Commissioner provides visionary direction and elevates the WIAC’s profile through effective communication. As a public-facing leader, the Commissioner builds relationships across member institutions, the community, and the NCAA Division III landscape while promoting the Division III philosophy of Discover, Develop, and Dedicate.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Commissioner’s responsibilities will include the ability to:
•Identify issues of critical importance to the Conference and offer strategies for resolving those issues, while engaging in both short and long-term strategic planning to navigate the rapidly changing collegiate athletic landscape.
•Communicate regularly, proactively, and in multiple venues to foster inclusive, collaborative, and constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the work of the Conference, including advocating for member institutions and their priorities.
•Oversee the preparation and approval of the annual Conference office budget, manage the collection of member assessments, and implement revenue-generating initiatives to support financial sustainability.
•Recruit, retain, and supervise personnel with a focus on developing and mentoring staff.
•Visit member institutions to build meaningful and impactful relationships, understand operations, provide support, and address issues of importance to the Conference, while also taking proactive and strategic steps to engage with potential affiliate members.
•Lead marketing communication plans, including the use of multiple media platforms, to ensure and enhance media coverage that supports the success of the Conference.
•Coordinate and manage all conference meetings, including preparing agendas, distributing materials, and ensuring logistical arrangements for chancellors, faculty athletics representatives, athletics directors, sport committees, and other authorized meetings.
•Advance educational programs that foster scholar-athlete development, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.
•Administer, interpret, and enforce the conference Constitution, Bylaws, Administrative Regulations, and NCAA rules.
•Represent the Conference as the voting delegate at the annual and special NCAA Conventions and attend other relevant meetings or conventions.
•Perform other duties as assigned by the Council of Chancellors.
Compensation:
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. An excellent benefits package through the University of Wisconsin system will be available.
Application Process
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the Conference. Applications should include a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of professional references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website by March 16th, 2026. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.
For additional information, please contact:
Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director
The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report. For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting uwshr@wisconsin.edu. The Universities of Wisconsin is required to conduct a criminal background and sexual harassment check for the selected finalist prior to employment. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment. The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).
Demonstrated experience as a senior-level professional in collegiate athletics, campus administration, conference/association leadership, or other relevant experience, with a preference for those with Division III experience.
Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills, including administration, strategic decision-making, and program oversight, within complex organizations.
Ability to promote the positive impact of athletics in higher education and support excellence in athletics and academics.
Strong interpersonal skills, able to build consensus and lead diverse groups, including university leaders, administrators, coaches, students, faculty, and external partners.
Deep knowledge of intercollegiate athletics, Division III issues, and athletic culture, with the ability to guide institutions toward a shared vision.
Experience managing conference championships and athletic events.
Commitment to student-athlete welfare and inclusive practices in athletics and hiring.
Knowledge of admissions and recruiting at public institutions, with familiarity with WIAC schools.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
About Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) traces its roots to 1913, when eight of Wisconsin’s normal schools formed the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin. As these schools became state universities, the conference evolved into the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC), upholding a tradition of competition, academic integrity, and sportsmanship. In 1971, the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) was created, expanding competitive opportunities for women and fostering leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. In 1997, the WSUC and WWIAC merged to form the modern WIAC, uniting Wisconsin’s public universities under a highly competitive and nationally recognized conference.
Today, the WIAC is a premier NCAA Division III conference, uniting eight public universities and more than 5,000 student-athletes committed to excellence in athletics, academics, and personal growth. The conference continues to develop outstanding student-at
