Robert M. Gates began his tenure as an independent member of the NCAA Board of Governors at just the right time. His appointment was announced Aug. 6, 2020. Almost a year later, the board announced its decision to convene a special constitutional convention.
Now Gates is using his decades of leadership across higher education and government to inform the process that will reshape how college sports are governed as he serves as chair of the Constitution Committee.
"Our job is not only to try to figure out what changes will help the Association, but most importantly what changes will make it easier for colleges and universities to serve student-athletes and enhance the success of their athletic programs in the academic context," said Gates, who was the guest on this week's NCAA Social Series.
Gates brings a unique perspective, having served as president of Texas A&M (August 2002-December 2006) and U.S. secretary of defense (December 2006-July 2011). He was the only secretary of defense in history to be asked to remain in the role by a newly elected president.
Before Texas A&M, Gates spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional, culminating in his service as director of the CIA.
Now, he is using his experience leading changes in those organizations to inform the first steps of the Constitution Committee. According to Gates, the more inclusive and transparent the process is, the better the chance it has for success.
"My approach to this committee is first of all to make sure the committee itself represents a variety of interests around the NCAA. We are taking an approach that's as open and transparent as we can possibly make it," Gates said. "And at the same time, get the views directly of people that would be impacted by the recommendations we make."
The outreach is taking place now. The Constitution Committee surveyed member schools and conferences, student-athletes and other stakeholders and will finish discovery meetings soon before starting to develop recommendations.
"This isn't going to be any one person's decision," Gates said. "Therefore, it puts an even greater premium on outreach, on getting as many points of view as we can, and then trying to sort our way through all of that and make some concrete recommendations."
The Constitution Committee began meeting last month, so the group of 28 leaders from across college sports is operating on a short runway. The special convention for NCAA member schools to discuss dramatic changes to the NCAA constitution is scheduled for Nov. 15. The Constitution Committee will provide its recommendations to the Board of Governors by Dec. 15, with full membership vote on the recommendations scheduled for the NCAA Convention in January.
"The special convention really is a culmination of an interactive process before we begin to put a draft together," Gates said. "There is no draft constitution. There is no secret solution hidden in somebody's desk drawer. This is a completely open process. And frankly I wouldn't lead anything other than that."
