When it was my honor to chair the Search Committee for the President of the NCAA, I was terribly excited when Dr. Brand accepted the offer of the Executive Committee to become President. The NCAA was transitioning from an organization that was known principally for athletic championships and enforcement to an organization that equally focused on the academics of higher education. I had great expectations for the organization under Dr. Brand’s leadership and all of my expectations have been exceeded. He accomplished more than I would have thought possible in exerting positive influence on the national collegiate scene. If one considers that the President of the NCAA does not have a vote in the governance system and that everything achieved has to be done through persuasion and influence, his accomplishments have been almost unbelievable.

His legacy will be everlasting.

Myles brought his academic experience in philosophy and higher education to the NCAA and effectively challenged the athletics community to demonstrate accountability for the educational values we espouse. He pushed to develop the data and systems in Division I to enhance graduation rates in all sports and helped the public understand that the vast majority of our student-athletes turn pro in something other than sports. He has been a good friend to the over 400,000 student-athletes in NCAA programs and he taught the NCAA staff how to keep the interests of student-athlete’s top of mind in our work. Myles leadership will be missed greatly, but he also nurtured a proud and professional culture that can keep its bearing while enduring such a great loss.

Myles Brand has been the best leader the NCAA has had during my career in intercollegiate athletics. I greatly appreciated the support he always gave to Division II and to the leadership of Division II at every level of our membership. He showed a sincere interest in all of our initiatives and was a strength to us in helping us achieve our goals for the division. He will be hard to replace and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

Higher education lost an uncommon leader today and Division II lost a true friend. Myles Brand always reminded us that we in the NCAA are a higher education association. And, it was his commitment to that essential characteristic which empowered Division II to redefine our selves consistent with the missions of our 300 colleges and universities. His passion for student welfare and success, his belief in the transformative power of intercollegiate athletics and his encouragement to focus on “doing the right things” will leave a lasting legacy in the lives of Division II athletes for decades to come.

Myles pushed all of us in college athletics to deal forthrightly with the many challenges we have, and he set an important example by thinking through his own views, stating them clearly, and then being willing to debate them at length. He was also a very good person, and I think in the long run we will miss him for that even more than for his strong leadership.

Dr. Brand's tenure at Indiana University and his steadfast conviction on a zero-tolerance policy is a true testament to his leadership and strong character.

Dr. Brand was the driving force behind the new Scholarly Colloquium and the Journal of Intercollegiate Sport. He believed to his core that good information and solid research should drive policy. He was troubled by the fact that many academics tended to ignore intercollegiate sport. And, perhaps most importantly, he acted on his convictions. It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with him on these projects.

As a Division I Board member and chair of the Executive Committee from 2003 to 2005, I had the privilege of working with Myles in the early years of his impressive record of leadership for the NCAA. Myles was absolutely committed to ensuring that the collegiate model for intercollegiate athletics was at the core of the NCAA’s values and that it was reflected in key plans and policies. He was an effective spokesperson for all of us on a broad array of issues and demonstrated great courage in addressing many that were controversial. Strong leaders like Myles make a difference every day. We will miss him and his contributions on behalf of higher education.

I always felt like deep down, Myles Brand and Bob Knight SHARED a lot more ideas about the way the NCAA should operate than they disagreed about. I don't think the looneys in the IU fan base would ever admit to it, but I think they both longed for the days of pure amateurism. Neither was/is perfect, but again, I think they had more in common than most would think.

College athletics was fortunate to have Myles Brand and he will be greatly missed. He has to make some of the more difficult decisions during his career in the collegiate world and his tenure represents the greatest financial growth period for the NCAA. He treated everyone with the utmost respect and always found balance the needs of business and the best-interests of student-athletes. 9

My deepest sympathies to Peg Brand and my NCAA colleagues. I had the privilege of working with Myles during my tenure at the NCAA. He was a man of great conviction and commitment. His legacy is a testament to his leadership, vision and passion for Intercollegiate Athletics. He will be missed.

The Sports Community has lost a great Icon. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed.

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Brand a year and a half ago, and was completely impressed by his leadership and intelligence. I also appreciated his acceptance of what we are doing with coaches and the opportunities he and the NCAA afforded me to help in the area of collegiate recruiting. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Although most outside of the world of college athletics would not know it, Dr. Brand was warm and charismatic. Several times I had an opportunity to share conversation with him and on each occasion, he was engaging and accepting of what I had to lend to the banter. His humor, his intelligence, and his professionalism will leave a lasting mark on me as well as countless others.

The NCAA has lost a great man! My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and the NCAA family!

I'm happy to say that I have Mr. Brand's signature on my diploma from IU. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Myles Brand cared about people, especially the student-athletes who represent the NCAA’s colleges and universities. You couldn’t help but be energized by his commitment to intercollegiate athletics when you were around him. He was passionate about improving the lives of student-athletes. He wanted to see them earn their degree while, at the same time, benefitting from intercollegiate athletic competition. If there was an audience to be found, he eagerly jumped at the opportunity to expound on the great things being done by student-athletes around the country.

We will miss his passion and energy. We have lost a wonderful advocate for intercollegiate athletics and higher education and I have lost a friend and colleague.

Throughout his life Myles Brand set the standard for leadership in higher education as a professor, university president and president of the NCAA. His legacy in college sports will be that national academic reform would not have happened without him.

I have known every NCAA executive director/president going back to the days of Walter Byers and watched with interest as Myles put a distinctive and welcome stamp upon the organization. Although I first knew him by reputation, I can well remember our first real visit and came away thinking, this is the right person at the right time. And he was. His leadership set a course that will endure.

Rich Clarkson

Even before his time at the NCAA, Dr. Brand's understanding of, and commitment to, the value of intercollegiate athletics was inspiring. I'm sure he will be missed.

Myles Brand quickly earned the respect of football coaches as his first official act as President of the NCAA was to attend the AFCA convention and speak at the FBS Head Football Coaches meeting.

Myles brought an honest and clear vision to the NCAA that inspired everyone who came in contact with him.

Myles listened, explained his position and acted. It was evident it was his goal to make every aspect of the NCAA better.

• The NCAA a better organization
• Coaches and Administrators – better leaders and more responsible
• Student athletes to reach their potential as students and as athletes

He will be sorely missed as a leader and as a friend.

On behalf of the Iowa Conference, we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Myles Brand on a difficult day for those he has left behind. It is clear that he valued the most precious resource in intercollegiate athletics ... the young men and women whom he served in his daily work. Condolences to his family, to those closest to him, and to the entire NCAA staff in Indianapolis. God bless.

We have a lost a great man and a great leader. I spent four years on the D-II Management Council and had many meetings and meals with him. He always remembered everyone's name and institution, making us all feel so important. God Bless him and his family. We will all miss him.

Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Brand on summer basketball initiatives.

I admired his exceptional ability to grasp a complex problem and boil it down to simple issues.

The AAU continues to support his summer basketball initiatives. He will be sorely missed by all. My thoughts and prayers remain with his family.

Dr. Brand was someone who was committed to diversity and inclusion not only in word, but in deed. I had the pleasure and opportunity to interact with him through various programs offered by the NCAA, one of which was the Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. While one of the program's objectives is to provide participants with leadership training, having the opportunity to speak to a leader such as Dr. Brand was something I will always cherish.

Dr. Brand was an exemplary leader who will deeply be missed.

Dr. Myles Brand was a change agent for intercollegiate athletics challenging the status quo and creating a culture that is "student-focused". An effective leader and mentor to the 2008 NCAA Fellows Class, we mourn our loss and cherish the time he spent with us!

It has been my privilege know Myles Brand. I appreciated his unwavering belief in educational athletics, as well as his total commitment to equal opportunity for men and women and his passion for diversity in the NCAA and in our institutions. I believe that without his strong support for Title IX in the last few years, our nation may well have seen the legislation weakened in a significant fashion. His statements and actions have literally affected innumerable young girls at the high school level and thousands of young women at the collegiate level. These girls and women may not know it now, but these young people owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for the wonderful opportunities that they enjoy today and will continue to enjoy tomorrow.

Dr. Brand was at the College Swim Coaches Association Convention in 2008, he noticed that I was the swimming coach at the University of Indianapolis and came up to me. He said that since we were both from the Indianapolis area, he wanted to introduce himself to me. He did not just introduce himself, he spoke with me for a few minutes about the University of Indianapolis and the strong leadership that we had at the University. I was humbled and grateful that Dr. Brand would associate with all levels from Div. I, to me at a Div. II institution.
God Bless his legacy and I hope that the NCAA can find someone that can carry on his siteful leadership.

The WBCA is extremely saddened at the loss of Dr. Myles Brand. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peg and his family. His unprecedented support of Title IX, women’s athletics and especially women’s basketball has helped to pave the way and guarantee a bright future for all female student-athletes. Myles was a tremendous supporter of mine, both personally and professionally. Unless you had a benchmark prior to his arrival at the NCAA, it is difficult to understand the vast impact of positive change he had on our sport. Through his vision, he laid a game plan that will be a great roadmap for many years to come. Our pursuit of excellence will continue, though his advocacy, leadership and passion will greatly be missed.

Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick:

“I’m fortunate to have been able to call Myles Brand a friend as well as a colleague in the collegiate athletics arena. Myles championed so many progressive causes with the creation and emphasis on tools like the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate and the Graduation Success Rate. He had a great handle on how athletics should fit into the culture of an institution and he spent his career promoting the values he believed should be a huge part of our programs. Whether it was his views on commercialism or simply the economics of running a major-college program, he wasn’t afraid to exert his influence to make college athletic programs more accountable and more representative of higher education. The restless intellect that made Myles such an extraordinary scholar also made him a great leader. He never shied away from taking a risk that he thought might benefit college athletics and the student-athletes he cared so deeply about.”

Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.

“My deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to Myles’ wife, Peggy, and their family,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame. “He was a man for whom I had great respect – as a scholar of the first rank, a gifted administrator, a reform-minded leader of the NCAA, and, most of all, as a man of great integrity.

“When we presented an honorary degree to Myles at our commencement ceremony this past May, his illness prevented him from attending. For only the second time in Notre Dame’s history, we awarded the degree in absentia. That is indicative of how much admiration those of us at Notre Dame had for him. A few weeks later, our provost, Tom Burish, and I presented the degree to Myles personally in Indianapolis. It was a privilege to do so, and it was a privilege to know him.”

Myles had such significant impact on NCAA on college athletics and really brought a heart to the job. He was an immensely fair man, listened to all issues, and was a compassionate leader. Like many who make an impact in society, his influence and impact does not leave us. Myles built a platform for the future and the seeds that he planted will bear fruit for a long tim. This is a sad day as we remember a man who really cared about student athletes and their academics. He had a keen interest in men’s basketball and was instrumental in helping the game grow. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife and family.

Myles Brand championed so much for so many...the importance of focusing on the student-athlete in his/her pursuiit of academic and athletics excellence; the importance of diversity and equity; the importance of ethics and integrity in athletics and in one's life...and on and on. He proved to be a change agent, par excellence, for the NCAA and his legacy wil be felt for a long time to come. We were all fortunate to experience his leadership...and blessed to be touched by his wisdom and his humanity. Special thoughts and prayers to his family. His was a life well-lived and widely respected.

We have lost a great leader and a special person. Myles Brand has provided us guidance while holding us accountable to keep the student in student-athlete. He challenged us to stay focused keeping the educational mission of higher education in the forefront of our thinking when making decisions in our intercollegiate athletic programs. I especially admired his commitment to diversity and gender equity. He believed and supported our Division II branding initiative and openly shared our platform with the many groups he addressed. We will truly miss Myles and his dynamic leadership. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Dr. Myles Brand was the President of the University of Oregon during some of my years of graduate study there. His strong support of academics, athletics, and commitment to diversity took UO to a higher level of national and international respect and recognition.

We are saddened to receive the news of Myles’ passing and send our condolences to his family. Myles was a leader in higher education, a champion for student-athletes and an advocate for the values of intercollegiate athletics. In addition, his influence was felt as a respected member of the Indianapolis community. He will be sorely missed.

Dr. Brand was a truly remarkable individual who possessed the keen ability to see both sides of an issue. His selfless and tireless pursuit of placing a greater emphasis on the student-athlete experience in the higher-education model has left an indelible mark that will carry the Association and its members forward. Whether he was talking to a room full of Presidents, Administrators or student-athletes, Dr. Brand was a pathological optimist whose message resounded with his audience. His philosophy and wisdom will be sorely missed, but his legacy has forever been emblazoned onto the Blue Disk of the Association.

It's a sad day for all of us in the NCAA. Myles Brand has been in my daily prayers since we all learned of his illness in January. He was a great leader who always had reform in his mind and one who did a valuable job of steering the entire body in a positive direction. The Kentucky basketball family extends our deepest condolences to Myles Brand's family - our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

The loss of Myles is a loss for all of intercollegiate athletics. The strategic positioning of Division II, emergence of Life in the Balance, I Chose DII, Community Engagement and Game Environment were all built on his legacy of the collegiate model for intercollegiate ahtletics and the NCAA as a higher education association. We are grateful to count Myles as friend and his impact on the co-curricular experience for student athletes will have a meaningful impact for generations ahead. We are thankful for his professional and personal commitment to the academy and our prayers are with his family.

I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Brand on several projects at the NCAA. He was always a very kind man, but I noticed a unique change in him shortly after his diagnosis. Dr. Brand was kinder, gentler and had the disposition of a man who had grown comfortable with his own mortality. You could see him walking the halls of the Association throughout his illness and although his health was fading, his commitment to student-athletes was unwavering. He will be missed, not just for his contributions to intercollegiate athletics, but also for his selfless and tireless dedication to increasing opportunity and expanding our definition of scholar-athlete.

Our NCAA staff is saddened by the loss of our leader. He taught us dignity and character in the face of a great life challenge, by continuing to come to the office regulary to make sure our student-athletes had his 100% Thank you for what you have given us and our student-athletes. God bless your NCAA family, Peg and Joshua.

The Division IA Faculty Athletics Representatives are greatly saddened by the news that Myles Brand died today. We know what a deadly disease is pancreatic cancer. We hoped against hope that Myles would beat the odds.

As NCAA president, Myles was an ally and supporter of our association as we work toward the betterment of college athletics. His most significant contribution was his leadership in academic reform. Among other significant initiatives undertaken through his leadership were the efforts to achieve greater integration of athletics departments and student-athletes into the university; focusing prime attention on the well-being of student-athletes; providing a framework for evaluating commercialism issues; and looking at recruiting and other issues in men’s basketball. He has been an able and articulate spokesperson for college athletics, particularly in advocating for sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In areas where institutions, and not the NCAA, have the operational voice – coach hiring and salary decisions chief among them – Myles has been a strong advocate for diversity in hiring and for a rule of reason in salaries. His leadership will be sorely missed among all NCAA member institutions, in the national office, and by the Division I Faculty Athletics Representatives. We extend our sympathy to Myles wife and family.

Myles' leadership in Division II is represented in many of our strategic initiatives, perhaps none more public than his encouragement to organize multiple Division II national championships at venues in the same city in an Olympic Style Sports Festival. His belief in the educational/life experience achieved through athletics participation, and the ultimate goal of college graduation, was at the core of everything he championed. Division II is in a strong position because of Myles' vision and commitment and we will miss him! It was a privilege to work with Myles and my thoughts and prayers are with Peg, his family and his friends.

Thank you to Myles Brand for his leadership and voice for both the NCAA and student-athletes at every level. His commitment to diversity and gender equity are exemplary and he will be greatly missed. On behalf of all the members of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS), I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Brands and to the NCAA family.

I remember a time before APR, 6/semester, 40/60/80 and maintaining gpa. There was fear in the land. However, that wasn't the intent...to cause fear.

Dr. Brand's vision was to regard the student-athlete as a student. Making SERIOUS progress toward a college degree in which the athlete would like to obtain from his/her institution. For some institutions, they took a real look at their administration and academic support BECAUSE of APR and APR penalties.

Kudos to a man and visionary, to see a "student" in an "athlete".

Statement from Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Co-Chairmen, William E. “Brit” Kirwan and R. Gerald Turner:

College sports lost a friend and strong leader in the passing of Myles Brand. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics is saddened by the loss and remembers Dr. Brand for his spirited commitment to academic reform.

Dr. Brand tackled tough issues with courage and tenacity. We celebrate his achievements in spurring real change to enhance the educational experience of college athletes.

I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Brand present to the NCAA in Nashville only two months after I became an FAR. I had no idea of what to expect but was amazed at the commitment and love that Dr. Brand expressed for the student-athlete, the people in athletics at all the NCAA institutions, and the principles of fairness that the NCAA stood for. From that day on I have held Dr. Brand in the highest regard. I never got to meet him formally but always made an effort to attend any speech he gave. He convinced me that my involvement with the NCAA was worthwhile.

I am so saddened by the death of Dr. Myles Brand. His strong support of equal opportunity for both men and women in athletics was an inspiration to me.
His belief and commitment to the "student-athlete" experience being the center of what the NCAA stands for...will forever be his legacy...I feel blessed to have known Dr. Brand and my heart goes out to Peg, his family and everyone in the NCAA community. On behalf of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy and all our graduates...thank you Dr. Brand for touching our lives.

Celia Slater-Executive Director
NCAA Women Coaches Academy

My profession, Sports Information, was fortunate to have Dr. Myles Brand as our friend. He understood the value of Sports Information Directors at all levels, and looked to us as the messengers of his message to highlight the academic achievements of student-athletes at all levels. He spoke to our organization's board in Indianapolis about our value and our role in college athletics. He also accepted our invitation to become the first NCAA President to speak at the CoSIDA Convention. Dr. Brand will be missed by all of us in our profession and we will continue his legacy by promoting not only the wonderful achievements in the playing arena, but also the remarkable achievements of students in the classroom and the community.
-Eric McDowell
Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information
Union College (NY)

Dr. Brand was truly a remarkable leader for college athletics. We will miss his leadership, but more importantly we will miss him and the character that he brought to college athletics. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Brand family during this time of sorrow.

Myles Brand put the student-athlete back in the forefront of the NCAA’s purpose. His personal philosophy and passion ignited a cultural change in intercollegiate athletics, as represented by academic reform and the student-athlete first philosophy.

He was a true leader, as he was a visionary who made the tough decisions to hold institutions accountable for how they provide service to student-athletes as they strived to earn their degrees and competed in their respective sports. In sum, he has taken the NCAA to a place where it has never been. More importantly, he was a kind man. When I worked at the NCAA, he always made himself available when he was in the office to speak with me and I enjoyed our conversations.

In celebrating his life, we should all challenge ourselves to continue his legacy of academic reform and providing for the overall well-being of the student-athlete experience in higher education. Myles reminded all us who work in higher education that success in intercollegiate athletics should not just be measured in wins and losses on the playing field.

My prayers and deepest condolences go out to his family.

Philip Hunt, Founder, The Student-Athlete Consulting Group

During my internship at the NCAA I got an opportunity to have lunch with President Brand soon after he started. I asked a lot questions during that lunch and he answered them all. But what I will never forget is his sincere honesty, his frankness, and the passion that he brought to the world of college athletics. He put the “student” back into the student athlete and I think the world of college of athletics will be better of for it. I send my condolences to his wife and family.

At our 60th anniversary celebration in February 2006, Dr. Brand spoke passionately and genuinely about the NCAA, the importance of student-athletes and the proper place of athletics within the context of higher education. His speech reflected what he truly believed in.
His tenure at the NCAA is marked by his exemplary leadership and his honest and passionate beliefs. To say the Association has benefited from his leadership is a tremendous understatement. His passing is a huge loss for the NCAA and intercollegiate athletics. Our prayers are with Dr. Brand's family.

Chris Martin
Commissioner
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (DIII)
DIII Management Council member

Dr. Brand brought a focus to college athletics, a focus that helped the athletes to be students. Blessings to his family.

“Myles was a good person who came in as an academian and dedicated his presidency to enhancing the academic environment,” stated NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary. “Once he became involved with his new constituency, athletics, he truly embraced it and therefore his loss will have a profound effect on the athletics community. The many people within NACDA and its affiliate associations that worked with Myles through the years want to extend its deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time.”

“Myles commitment to integrating athletics with academics during his tenure will be a focus of his legacy, as proven by his prime measures – the APR and Graduation Success Rate,” stated NACDA President Randy Spetman, director of athletics, Florida State University. “His commitment to diversity and inclusion was unprecedented. Intercollegiate athletics has lost a true leader and friend.”

Dr. Brand transformed the NCAA from an organization focused almost exclusively on National Championships and chasing media dollars to one that now embraces the academy. His particular emphasis on using academic research to support the decisions of the organization has enhanced the NCAA brand. He walked comfortably in the worlds of higher education, goverernmental issues and athletics, a characteristic rarely found. He will be deeply missed.

"We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Myles Brand. He was a remarkable man and a wonderful leader for intercollegiate athletics. His leadership and accomplishments will certainly benefit student-athletes, coaches and higher education for decades to come."

Though Dr. Brand's passing saddens us, heaven is rejoicing right now.

The NCAA is very blessed to have been led by a man who exuded such admirable character, integrity and fairness. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work with a great group of people in Indianapolis and throughout the country towards the accomplishment of the Association's mission.

My prayer is that Dr. Brand's vision for the Association will be moved forward by others.

I feel so fortunate to have been a member of Myles Brand's team at the NCAA, and I am deeply saddened by his passing.
Myles was the right leader at the right time for college athletics. He stood for the values and ideals that have strengthened higher education, intercollegiate athletics at all levels, the experiences of student-athletes, coaches and colleagues of all races and both genders, and fair play. Myles did not hesitate to take a stand on what he knew to be right and he challenged his staff and the NCAA membership to do likewise. His courage, passion and caring ways were apparent throughout his lifetime.
Myles touched the lives of so many people in a way that enriched us all. We have lost a great leader and friend, but his legacy will serve us well for many years to come.
Sincere condolences to Peg, Josh and the NCAA family.

Myles Brand’s leadership changed the national dialog on athletics by emphasizing its educational mission of athletics. His clear, sustained support of gender equity was a central component of this theme, shepherding Title IX during the 2003 Commission on Opportunities in Athletics, and later after the OCR released its 2005 Clarification. These were pivotal points in the law’s history and stemmed the potential harm from the Bush Administration. Under his leadership the NCAA honored long-time advocates Christine Grant, Donna deVarona, Senator Birch Bayh and Billie Jean King with prestigious NCAA awards, and the NCAA ensured that gender equity was a part of the decentennial certification process. I truly cannot imagine where women’s athletics would be without his forceful and eloquent stances over the past six years.

Those of us working for Title IX compliance have long said that advocates of the old mentality must die off before systemic change can be achieved for the average college female athlete. It pains me that he is not around see the day when gender equity in intercollegiate athletics doesn’t require a remarkable man like Myles Brand.

Myles was a true leader who has left an outstanding legacy regarding the integration of athletics and higher education. I have to believe that his experience as Division III sutdent-athlete helped to shape at least some of his philosophy regarding academics and athletics. He certainly had great affinity for the division. It was a great personal and professional opportuity to work with Myles. I always felt like I was in the presence of greatness when I spent time with him. His passing is a tremendous loss to everyone associated with higher education and the NCAA.

Dan Dutcher VP for Division III

Myles Brand was an outstanding leader in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. His steady guidance will provide tremendous opportunities for years to come. We have been blessed and fortunate to have Myles Brand's passion, dedication and leadership.

Mike Alden
University of Missouri

Myles was an amazing leader who never lost the common touch. In my prior position I called upon him several times to interact with the MAC presidents group and he never said "no". He visited almost every school in the MAC and he was always very accessible. He was an advocate of Diversity and personally supported me in many endeavors. I enjoyed working on some of the initiatives that will be a part of his legacy.
My prayers go out to his family.

Dell Robinson, GLIAC, Commissioner

The collegiate community was truly blessed to have had President Brand as its leader for the past six years. His vision and courage were an inspiration to all of us, and he will be dearly missed. We have all been the beneficiaries of his leadership and talents, and his legacy will have an impact on the NCAA and intercollegiate athletics for years to come. I am certain that the leadership of the NCAA will continue his legacy to honor his memory. My thanks, thoughts, and prayers are with him and his family at this time.

Dr. Myles Brand was a tremendous leader and will be greatly missed. I was fortunate to work as a member of the NCAA team briefly as a National Office intern and was struck be Dr. Brand's personable nature and true passion for college athletics and the student-athlete. My deepest condolences to his family as they go through this extremely difficult time.

Dr. Myles Brand was such a strong supporter of women’s basketball and equality for young women in our game. Without strong efforts such as his, UConn and the game of women’s basketball as a whole would not have made the strides that we have over the years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

Myles Brand was an outstanding leader and extrodinary man of vision. I was able to visit and learn from him while participating in the Class of 2009 Leadership Institute for Ethnic and Minority Males and Females. His committment to diversity has shaped the NCAA and member institutions in a tremendous way. His leadership and vision will play a part in the transformation of collegiate athletics for years to come.
Our thoughts are with him family and friends-

September 16, 2009

The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) has lost a great friend and ally in NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand. He fought a great battle against pancreatic cancer. Dr. Brand was a strong and eloquent leader and spokesperson for maintaining strong academic standards within intercollegiate athletics. He introduced a dose of realism to discussions of academics and athletics and in promoting academic reform within the NCAA. He recognized the educational value of athletics and its part in the comprehensive experience for student-athletes. We applaud his support in increasing high school academic requirements for prospective scholarship student-athletes and with mandatory progress-toward-degree measure to make sure student-athletes graduate in a timely fashion. His guidance in developing two new academic standards – the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of student-athletes and the Academic Progress Rate (APR), measuring how scholarship student-athletes and individual teams are doing term to term is impressive. Graduation rates have improved and the APR has changed the recruiting mindset and behavior on many campuses.

The entire FARA Executive Committee recently named Dr. Brand as the recipient of the 2009 David Knight Award for Outstanding Service to FARA. His strong support of FARA, his commitment to having FARs play a key, important role in NCAA governance, and his support for our FARA presidents and FARA's Executive Committee was greatly appreciated by all. His contributions in promoting academic reform in intercollegiate athletics were truly remarkable.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. His voice within intercollegiate athletics will be greatly missed. His ideas and spirit will continue to be heard in our discussions on academics and intercollegiate athletics.

Mark A. Pope, Director of Athletics, University of Saint Francis

As a diehard Boilermaker, I gained the utmost respect for this softspoken gentleman from IU. He was everything that we aspire to be: never afraid to make the most difficult decisions, but always ready to listen to opposing views.
The State of Indiana and intercollegiate athletics has lost a true leader. My deepest condolences to his family, and may God give you His strength in these difficult days.

On behalf of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, I would like to express heartfelt condolences to Peg and the family of Myles Brand. President Brand was a champion for women’s basketball. He challenged the committee to grow the game of women’s basketball and provided a voice for our coaches. Most importantly, he had a great vision for the game. Myles not only served as our advocate, he stood by us. His leadership allowed us to explore opportunities to grow the game of women’s basketball for our student-athletes and coaches.

We will miss President Brand’s leadership and opportunity for open and candid conversation. The entire women’s basketball community will continue to keep Myles, Peg and the Brand family in our thoughts and/or prayers as we continue to celebrate his life and the common vision we shared.

Jane C. Meyer
Chair, Division I Women's Basketball Committee
The University of Iowa

On behalf of the West Coast Conference, its member institutions and student-athletes, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Dr. Myles Brand and his colleagues at the NCAA office. Dr. Brand transformed the Association into one which is squarely focused on the needs of student-athletes and fully supports the philosophy that athletics is integral to the educational mission of higher education. We are all better coaches, administrators, and student-athletes for his efforts.

Jamie Zaninovich
Commissioner
West Coast Conference

To the NCAA family and all those who loved President Myles,

I offer on behalf of the physically and mentally challenged along with all college sports fans our deepest sympathies on the loss of this unique and noble man who made college games something to enjoy. He will be missed, not only for his kindness but for his gentle and good sense to see something great happening.

Christopher C. Gagliardi
Youth Advocate for the Physically and mentally challenged for the state of New Jersey

The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics expresses its sorrow at the passing of NCAA President Myles Brand. President Brand's many accomplishments at the NCAA will form a lasting legacy, adding to his distinguished career as a philosopher and university president. From the standpoint of the COIA faculty coalition, President Brand's commitment to academic ideals and to guiding college sports towards a mission to support the pursuit of knowledge was an expression of values we celebrate. We benefited from his warm willingness to meet with our coalition, share ideas, and strengthen understanding among those with different perspectives on athletics.

COIA extends its deep condolences to President Brand's family. We also express our sympathies to our colleagues at the NCAA. Like them, we will miss President Brand's leadership and personal engagement.

September 17, 2009

The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA), a non-profit organization that fosters the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports, which Myles Brand enthusiastically supported. Newly elected BCA President, Dave Leitao and Executive Director, Floyd Keith provides the following joint statement regarding the loss of NCAA President, Myles Brand.

“The American sports community and Black Coaches and Administrators have lost a devoted friend and advocate. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and membership of BCA, we are deeply saddened by the passing of NCAA President Myles Brand. Myles was highly valued on both a professional and personal level by our association. He embraced and supported BCA diversity and professional development efforts and he respected our concerns related to student-athlete welfare as he led the charge for academic reform for the student-athlete in America. From the beginning of his tenure as NCAA President in 2003, Dr. Brand communicated directly with our association regarding multiple issues of mutual concern and established a continued open dialogue between his office and the BCA. His legacy will be one of courage, compassion and trust. “

Its apparent that intercollegiate athletics, higher education, and the student-athlete experience is better understood from the leadership of Myles Brand. During my years as a NCAA national office administrator, Myles changed our thinking, the culture and the Association's membership conscience and ideals. Myles' is sadly missed, while his leadership and legacy will be entrench within all of us who are humanitarians to the mission of intercollegiate athletics and higher education.

Kelvin Ford
Asst. Athletic Director
WTAMU

I am profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Myles Brand. The NCAA – and the entire sports world – has lost a great leader and true champion. Myles’ passion for collegiate athletics, and more importantly, the student-athletes who compete with dignity and honor on behalf of all NCAA member institutions was unwavering. His grace, commitment and humanity made him an extraordinary leader, mentor and role model. I will miss him.

The staff and student-athletes of Columbia University Athletics express their deepest sympathies to the Brand family and the staff of the NCAA on the loss of our dear friend.

M. Dianne Murphy
Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education
Columbia University in the City of New York

Dr. Brand gave himself entirely to the things he loved and cared about. That giving of himself made a difference in college athletics and it made a difference in the lives of families whose lives he touched through The Home Team partnership between the NCAA and Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Brand helped Habitat reach a new generation of volunteers through this partnership, helping to engage young athletes by challenging them to think beyond their lives on the courts, fields and tracks of the athletic world to the broader world in which they live. Their engagement in the communities in which they played will be a part of Dr. Brand’s legacy to them long after their athletic careers have ended.
--Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer,
Habitat for Humanity International

Dr. Brand, more than any previous NCAA president, included college coaches in the complex issues of the Association. He was a willing listener which is so critical for someone in the position he was in. "College coaches lost a great friend with the passing of Dr. Brand."

Myles would often characterize himself as a pathological optimist. He consciencously looked for the upside in people and institutions. He certainly did that with intercollegiate athletics. But he wasn't a Pollyanna. He knew there were parts of college sports that needed attention and some that needed a full overhaul. He was willing to accept small wins and build on them. He was content to take a step forward, knowing he had avoided taking two steps back. Myles understood that with such steps, long marches begin; and beginnng was much better than standing still or falling behind.

More than anything else, he lightened our load with a reason of hope for things getting better rather than a sense of inevitable decline.

When I found out last week that Dr. Brand had passed I was in total shock. The NCAA's most passionate leader, who set the bar high for academic performance at the Division I level, terming
"the student athlete",was gone. I wish I had the chance to meet Dr. Brand and thank him for all the hard work he put in for the NCAA and it's members.
May he Rest In Peace, and his successor follow in his footsteps.

Thank You Dr. Brand!

I had the honor of meeting Dr. Brand on a couple of occassions and found him to be very warm and friendly. The NCAA has lost one of its greatest assets. The TL family sends it's most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire NCAA community.

First I would like to offer my condolences to the Brand family. I am Indiana University Alumni. I graduated from Graduate school at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University in 1997 during Miles Brands Tenure. He was a scholar beyond his times. I would often witness a very compassionate, analytical man who truly represented high morals and ethics; As we all remember he stool for high standards in all realms of life not just academically. One of my fondest memories is that of receiving a free ticket to one of the biggest basketball games of the 1995-96 season and sitting on the row with President Brand. My being this small town African-
American girl from Alabama working through my career at a major Research University. accompanied by Dr. Rhodes from my department, when introduced to President Brand for the first time, his words of encouragement and inviting smile made me feel like a million dollars. All of my hard work and ambitions were summarized in the late President Brand's address to our graduating class in May 1997. He challenged us to "take the values from Indiana and introduce them to the world." When I heard that he had transitioned out of IU and assumed the role of president of the NCAA I was so excited. It was not surprising that the NCAA has evolved into a pillar of achievement in college athletics. I will end by saying, that I challenge all Academic and Athletic leadership to follow in the footsteps of this great pioneer. He will be missed.

As a professor of philosophy, but more importantly as a leader of educational institutions, Myles became the very embodiment of the altruistic "philosopher kings" idealized by Plato in The Republic. Myles combined philosophy and vision with the necessary practical wisdom to change the course of the NCAA, enhancing its ability as well as its credibility in strengthening the link between student and athlete. His sparkling eyes focused steadily on the distant horizon, understanding that reform efforts require strength of character, an unyielding will, and tactful eloquence. Testament to his effectiveness is the simple fact that, despite the impediments of an oft-times sclerotic bureaucracy, he was able to improve the experience of the student-athlete on both sides of the hyphen. College athletics has never had a better advocate or friend.

I cannot tell you how sorry I am that Myles lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a man of integrity, vision and character. His dedication to women on many fronts should be applauded. His vision and follow through on academic reform was unprecedented and his leadership remarkable. My thoughts and prayers go out to Peg, Joshua and the entire NCAA family. We will someday find a cure for this horrific disease. Myles contributed in so many ways to bring some awareness to the need for better funding and more comprehensive research. His legacy will live on for years to come.

We often speak the words, "being at the right place at the right time"...Myles was not only at the right place, more importantly, it was the right time for all of us in higher education. Myles was a stalwart individual who advocated for the values of higher education and the integrated role of athletics for all students, particularly those engaged as student-athletes. Educators, role models and experiences were central to his work and legacy as the national office leader. I am forever greatful for the opportunity to learn and work with Myles. He challenged us daily to keep the "student-athlete" and the importance of their experiences in the forefront of our efforts.

It was an honor and privilege for me to help on special projects for China front under the initiative and leadership of two former NCAA presidents Myles Brand and Cedric Dempsey through their executive staff since 1999. As recently as about this time last year, President Brand appeared on Chinese national CCTV-9 advocating the UNIVERSAL value of how intercollegiate athletics ought to have its due function in the process of developing a young mind-body into a contributing global citizen with integrity, discipline, and competency in a specialized field. President Brand, through his policy direction, vision, and leadership tenure at NCAA since 2001, has not only impacted on near 400,000 student-athletes in our USA, but also for sure rendered his philosophic wisdom on school athletics and our American good-will ambassadorship to his Chinese counterparts’ program policy direction and impact on about 300,000,000 Chinese students at all levels. President Brand has truly lived in a life that IS larger than his self with a great legacy. I do greatly miss my few occasional interactions with him in person, from which I have been beneficiary from his integrity and wisdom for life. To The Brand family, we respectfully share your loss and will extend his legacy.

David W. Pan, Ph.D., J.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
College of Business and Technology
Northeastern State University
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012

September 17, 2009

On behalf of the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association, Mr. Eric Hyman, Association President and Director of Athletics at the University of South Carolina, and I express our most sincere sorrow on the passing of Dr. Myles Brand. The legacy of President Brand will clearly describe a genuine compassion for the student-athlete, his leadership presence during very significant governance changes, academic reform, and so much more. President Brand was always eager to support the activities of the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association, and to personally participate at our Annual Meeting and Institute. We are grateful to him for his support and guidance. We will miss him.

We also offer our most genuine condolences to President Brand’s family, friends, and NCAA staff.

Dutch Baughman
Executive Director
Division 1A Athletic Directors' Association

I offer my condolences to the Brand family and the NCAA staff. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Brand at the NCAA leadership conference. He was a very kind man that gave us young leaders advice on how to be half the leader he has been for college sports. He will be missed.

Nichole Tiggs
Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
University of North Dakota

On behalf of all of the employees, authors and coaches from Coaches Choice, and its sister company, Healthy Learning, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Brand family and the NCAA family. Myles Brand was an exceptional leader and an exceptional academic advocate. He has left a strong foundation for future NCAA growth and the further nurturing of student-athletes as positive, contributing citizens.

James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM | Founder, President and Publisher
D. Mark Robertson, CEO
Coaches Choice | Healthy Learning

Dr. Myles Brand worked tirelessly as a change agent not only for the NCAA but for higher education. He put the focus back on athletes being students. He took on tough issues that were not popular but was needed. His real impact on intercollegiate athletics will be felt years from now as we continue to implement academic reform for student-athletes. A lot of well intended people make a commitment to a cause but they don’t have the courage to execute their commitment. Dr. Brand had the courage and know-how to bring to fruition his commitment to the academic and athletic success of student athletes.

Dennis E. Thomas, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

I had the pleasure of getting to know Myles when he appointed me as a member of the Advisory Board for the NCAA Scholarly Colloquium on College Sports, which he created as a means of facilitating multi-disciplinary scholarly study of intercollegiate athletics issues. This is one of the many legacies Myles leaves behind. He was a honorable man of wisdom and integrity who always had the best interest of student-athletes at heart, and it was my pleasure to know him personally. May he rest in peace.

Matt Mitten
Professor of Law and Director, National Sports Law Institute and LL.M. in Sports Law Program for Foreign Lawyers, Marquette University Law School