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Jeff Hurd, who had served as the Western Athletic Conference's interim commissioner since March, 2012, had the interim taken off his name. The appointment came following the conclusion of the summer meeting of the 2013-14 Board of Directors held in Denver.
"I congratulate Jeff Hurd on his appointment as the Commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference," said Seattle University President and 2013-14 Board chair Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J. "Commissioner Hurd has proven of bringing the WAC to its current promising status and we look forward as a Board to working with him as he leads the WAC in its further development."
Hurd, who becomes the sixth commissioner in the WAC's 51-year history, joined the WAC staff in 1985 and has served in various capacities during his tenure. He was the Conference's Senior Associate Commissioner prior to being named to replace former commissioner Karl Benson on an interim basis.
Hurd also spent seven years as the Director of Public Relations for the Missouri Valley Conference and three years as Sports Information Director at the University of Tulsa.
The Western Athletic Conference becomes a nine-member conference effective July 1, when it welcomes the addition of six new institutions to current members Idaho, New Mexico State and Seattle. The new members are CS Bakersfield, Chicago State, Grand Canyon, Missouri-Kansas City, Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley.