Kallander is the longest-serving commissioner in the Big South's 39-year historyBig South Conference
Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander is set to retire at the end of the 2022-23 academic year, a decision he told SBJ has been years in the making. Kallander is the longest-serving commissioner in the league’s 39-year history and second-longest tenure for a D-I commissioner, serving in the role for the past 27 years. “We’ve been able build a real environment within the conference, it’s like a family-like atmosphere,” he said. “That really centers around our commitment to our student athletics and enriching their experience and providing them with the best opportunities and the best experience we can.”
THOUGHT LEADER: During his tenure, Kallander directed the expansion of the conference and even convinced it to add football, which opened the door for new members. The conference has also seen record levels in marketing revenue, in addition to extensive TV coverage for women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, and more for the first time. When it comes to the current state of college athletics, Kallander has “a lot of concerns.” He said he has always supported NIL but feels it has gone a little too far. Kallander: “When we start crossing over into endorsements it gets problematic because it’s so hard to control.” He thinks college athletics needs “congressional help” because it is “really important for college athletics to be distinctive because that’s what’s been great about college athletics for so long. … and so I worry that we’re losing that.”
FUTURE IS BRIGHT: As for the future of the Big South, Kallander said he wants the conference to “continue to explore growing in a smart way” and to “explore ways to generate revenues in this new world of college athletics and being innovative and creative around that.” Following his retirement, Kallander plans to spend more time with his family which includes being with his wife and sons. The Big South kicks off its men’s and women’s basketball tournament today at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. There is no word on who will be Kallander’s predecessor.
