Liz Suscha has been named the NCAA's vice president of championships governance and policy. With nearly 18 years of experience at the national office, Suscha spent the past eight years as the managing director of championships and alliances.
In that role, Suscha oversaw the Women's College World Series, partnering with USA Softball, the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City. In addition to softball, she focused on Division I and national sports issues in football and men's and women's basketball and provided direction for Olympic and emerging sport initiatives.
In her new role, Suscha will set the strategic direction for and manage issues affecting Division I, II and III and National Collegiate championships (other than Division I basketball and football). She will serve the governance structure and membership to facilitate and provide leadership in the consideration of championships policies and legislative changes. Additionally, she will provide leadership to the championships staff, serving as liaison to Division I sport oversight committees (other than basketball and football) and the Division II and III Championships Committees.
Suscha began her career at the national office in 2007 as an assistant director of championships and alliances. During her time at the NCAA, she has worked on a variety of sports across all three divisions and, for a period of time, led the Division III championships program. A former basketball student-athlete at Brown, Suscha is one of the most decorated women's basketball players in program history, twice earning first-team All-Ivy League honors and a spot in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. She later earned her Master of Business Administration from Indiana.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to take on Lynda (Tealer)'s vision for staff leadership of the championships committee structure. We have a great team, and I look forward to working more closely with them, along with membership stakeholders, to see ideas through to enhance our championships," Suscha said.
Suscha's new position aligns with the department's vision to deliver first-class championships while generating value for the NCAA membership. Given the anticipated changes to the Division I governance structure, Suscha's role will serve as necessary leadership to drive the committee structure and decision-making on policies that are consistent with values and goals for NCAA championships.
"For several years, Liz has been involved in many aspects of championship governance and membership engagement while running championships. She is a tremendous leader who has significantly impacted our people, culture and organization. I look forward to Liz's work in this new role and her continued leadership, collaboration and success," said Lynda Tealer, senior vice president of championships and alliances.
"Liz has been a linchpin in our championships department and to our membership for nearly two decades. She's earned this opportunity, and we're fortunate to elevate someone as talented as her at the national office," President Charlie Baker said.
Suscha will report directly to Tealer. She has already begun in her new capacity.
