Former SEC Commissioner Mike Slive Dies At 77

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Former Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive died Wednesday at the age of 77. Slive served as the commissioner of the SEC from 2002-15. He was the conference’s seventh commissioner.

During his time as commissioner, the SEC won 81 national championships, including titles in football in 2003 and 2006-12. Prior to working in college athletics, Slive served as a judge and attorney and earned degrees from Dartmouth, Georgetown and Virginia.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

According to an SEC news release, Slive also played a key role in creating the College Football Playoff and in efforts “to reorganize the NCAA for the purpose of creating a governance structure that provides maximum opportunities for student-athletes.” He also served as the coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series (2006-08), the chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee (2008-09) and as on the first NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee.

Prior to serving as the SEC commissioner, Slive was the commissioner for Conference USA and served from 1995-2002. Slive took over for Roy Kramer as SEC commissioner and was replaced by Greg Sankey, who remains in the position.

Slive helped start the Mike Slive Foundation last year with Birmingham attorney Ed Meyerson to help research and treatment for prostate cancer. Slive had battled - and survived - prostate cancer and was a vocal advocate for curing the disease.

Slive is survived by his wife of 49 years, Liz; daughter Anna; son-in-law Judd Harwood; and granddaughter Abigail who is 5.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Like the Birmingham Patch Facebook page for more local news.