Q & A with the Brand behind the NCAA's success

INDIANAPOLIS -- Myles Brand is no empty suit.

There is little argument that the 63-year old NCAA president is the most proactive leader the association has employed.

Myles Brand has sparked controversy with his idea that athletics can follow a business model. (AP)

You might not agree with him. Certainly, any NCAA president is a lightning rod.

But, Brand gets it. And he gets things done. You might not agree with the agenda, but at least there is one. That's more than can be said about previous NCAA directors.

It's because there is no official power with the presidency, but it does come with a heck of a bully pulpit. And just less than 3½ years into the job, Brand has quickly become known for something more than firing Bobby Knight.

The former Indiana president has assisted in changing the landscape of college sports. After football recruiting scandals at Colorado and Miami embarrassed the schools and the sport, Brand helped quickly push through recruiting reforms.

The NCAA acquired the NIT, essentially to settle a lawsuit, but the association saved millions of dollars in the process, proving it learned its lesson under the previous regime. Under the old guard, a costly lawsuit involving assistant coaches cost the association more than $50 million.

In January, Brand raised eyebrows with his State of the Association address. In essence, he said it's OK for schools to pursue the elementary business model (profit) and still follow a not-for-profit educational mission on the athletic side.

He no longer uses the term "arms race," but Brand has long railed against the high cost of doing athletic business. More recently, the NCAA moved to shut down diploma mills reacting to a series of stories in the New York Times.

And that's why, for once, the NCAA has the right man. For the first time in its history it hired a college CEO instead of an athletic administrator. Brand is someone who knows how to navigate the institutional corporate/athletic maze.

It's a good thing. The lawsuits haven't gone away. The NCAA is in the early stages of reviewing a suit seeking more scholarship money for basketball and football players. Meanwhile, it's March and Myles Brand is a little like you and I -- he loves to watch the Madness.

From his office, just a short ride from the site of this year's Final Four, Brand sat down recently with SportsLine.com and spoke about the tournament and beyond.

Q: Your administration has been able to accomplish more, quicker, than any director I've seen since Walter Byers. Why do you think that is?