Pac-12 officially announces Teresa Gould as conference commissioner

After relieving George Kliavkoff of his duties on February 16, the Pac-12 Conference has landed on their new commissioner for the future. Announcing Monday that Teresa Gould has been appointed as the next commissioner for the Pac-12.

Gould was previously serving as the deputy commissioner of the conference and now becomes the first-ever female commissioner of a Power Five conference.

But there’s no question that Gould will have her workout for her, as the Pac-12 currently consists of just two programs, Washington State and Oregon State, following the latest round of conference realignment.

“Teresa’s deep knowledge of collegiate athletics and unwavering commitment to student-athletes makes her uniquely qualified to help guide the Pac-12 Conference during this period of unprecedented change in college sports,” Washington State University President and chair of the Pac-12 Board of Directors Kirk Schulz said in a statement. “As the first female commissioner of an Autonomy Five conference, Teresa will be able to bring new perspectives and fresh ideas to the table as the industry works to find its way through this shifting landscape. We look forward to her leadership as we write the next chapter in the Pac-12’s storied history.”

Gould has spent the past five years as the Pac-12’s deputy commissioner, overseeing the management of the conference’s women’s basketball and Olympic sports along with championship events, compliance, governance, and student-athlete engagement. Also serving as the Pac-12’s senior woman administrator.

Before working with the Pac-12 she served in numerous roles with the University of California, Davis and California, Berkeley dating back to 2001. Including interim director of athletics and executive director and chief revenue officer of the UC Davis alumni association as well as the deputy director of athletics, external relations, and chief of staff to the athletic director at UC Berkley.

“I look forward to partnering with Oregon State and Washington State to secure a bright future for their student-athletes that allows them  to compete at the highest level of college athletics, while enjoying the benefits of a quality campus experience,” Gould said. “Working in collaboration with their leadership and our talented staff, I am excited to build a pathway for the future that allows their programs to thrive.”

Gould did not shy away from the new challenges that face the Pac-12 conference. Losing USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon to the Big Ten, Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to the Big 12, and California and Stanford to the ACC.  

The two remaining teams in the Pac-12 recently announced a scheduling partnership with the Mountain West and an affiliate membership agreement with the West Coast Conference. But moving forward there is still plenty to figure out across the conference’s various sports and beyond as the Pac-12 continues to sponsor select sports, sign media rights partnerships, and produce live events and content.

“We find ourselves navigating an extraordinarily complex time in our industry. The challenges we face must be met head-on, with a reinvigorated energy to transform and forge ahead. I look forward to working with both campus and national leaders to find solutions that will preserve opportunities for student-athletes and set us up for long-term viability and success,” Gould said.