Oliver Luck Leaves West Virginia to Take Job with NCAA

West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, who also serves on the College Football Playoff selection committee, is reportedly set to leave his post to take on a prominent role with the NCAA. The organization announced the move Wednesday:

"

The NCAA has hired Oliver Luck as the executive vice president of regulatory affairs, a new position that will bring the national office regulatory functions – academic and membership affairs, the Eligibility Center and enforcement – under one umbrella. 

[...]

"I am very pleased to have Oliver joining our team in the national office,” said [NCAA President Mark] Emmert. “He brings to us wide ranging, hands-on experience from across athletic, academic, and business worlds. Most important, his commitment to the success and well-being of our student-athletes is unquestionable. He has demonstrated that commitment on the ground and throughout his life. I'm anxious for him to get started with us."

"

Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail  first reported the news:

He also provided further details about Luck's expected role as second in command:

Luck talked about the move, according to the official announcement:

"

This is a time of fundamental change in intercollegiate athletics that will set the foundation for the years ahead. The challenges both internal and external to the NCAA present a unique opportunity to help shape the landscape for hundreds of thousands of young men and women. It is an honor to join President Emmert, the NCAA staff, and our member institutions in this journey. I look forward to partnering with campus executives, administrators, coaches and student-athletes, to enhance the intercollegiate athletics experience.

"

In terms of Luck's role on the selection committee, Joe Schad of ESPN passed along comments from CFP executive director Bill Hancock:

Luck has served as the athletic director at West Virginia since 2010. He oversaw the program's move to the Big 12 Conference and made the decision to promote Dana Holgorsen to head football coach, among other notable changes.

He's the father of current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. NCAA headquarters is also located in Indianapolis.

Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated believes Luck will bring some ideas for progress to his new job, but he doesn't sound convinced change will come easy:

The NCAA has been a major target of criticism in recent years for a wide range of reasons. Hiring Luck suggests the organization knows it at least needs to consider fresh ideas. The questions are exactly how much power he'll possess in this newly created position and how much change he can enact.

A clearer outlook should emerge once Luck gets down to business in the position. The College Football Playoff will also need a new Big 12 representative if it's going to maintain its current structure.