RICHARDSON, Texas – David Flores, Vice President for Governance at the Big 12 Conference, has been named Commissioner of the American Southwest Conference, as announced by the league’s Council of Presidents.
“While we are thankful for Amy Carlton’s service to the ASC schools, we look forward to the energy David will provide to make the ASC known for its character and championships,” said Eric Bruntmyer, President of Hardin Simmons University and Chair of the American Southwest Conference Council of Presidents.
“I want to thank Presidents Bruntmyer and O’Rear, the Council of Presidents and the search committee for the opportunity to serve as the next Commissioner of the American Southwest Conference,” said Flores. “I’m humbled by this opportunity, and I look forward to serving the student-athletes, coaches and administrators of the ASC member institutions in not only sustaining but strengthening the academic and athletic success of the American Southwest Conference.”
Flores has served as a Student-Athlete Academic Advisor, Director of Compliance Services, Director of Student-Athlete Support Services, Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Governance, and Vice President for Governance through his 25 years of intercollegiate athletics service.
“David Flores is a visionary leader with a proven track record of success and rich experiences throughout his career of service in collegiate athletics,” said Dr. Randy O’Rear, President of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. “He comes highly recommended, and the American Southwest Conference Council of Presidents is thrilled to have David serving as our new commissioner. The ASC has enjoyed remarkable success on a national level, and we look forward to even greater days ahead with David leading us into the future.”
Flores began his Big 12 Conference tenure with a focus on conference and national governance. His responsibilities grew to oversee the joint operations of compliance and governance as well as serving as the liaison to the Faculty Athletics Representatives, Directors of Student-Athlete Support Services and coordination of the academic awards program. He was also the championship liaison to the indoor and outdoor track championships and supported football operations on an interim basis. Finally, he served as the liaison to the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and student-athlete representatives to Autonomy Governance. Prior to his Big 12 Conference role, Flores served as the Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Support Services at Texas State University, where he oversaw academic support services for all Bobcat teams and spearheaded a complete redesign of the student-athlete academic center.
“I have had the opportunity to know and work with David for many years in the Big 12 Conference, said Brian Shannon, Texas Tech University Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Law Professor and Faculty Athletics Representative. “He is a consummate professional who is highly respected not only within the Big 12 but also among his peers from the other Division I Autonomy Conferences and the national leadership at the NCAA. He’s extremely knowledgeable about the current state of college athletics and will no doubt prove to be a great leader for the American Southwest Conference and its member institutions”.
Flores served as the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Services at Kansas State University, where he was the senior compliance administrator over all Wildcat sports, a member of the senior staff, and represented the University within the Big 12 Conference and NCAA committee structures. Before his role at Kansas State, he worked in compliance services and student-athlete academic advisor roles at the University of New Mexico, Texas Tech University and his alma mater, the University of Texas at El Paso.
Flores, a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was a four-year letterman for the Miners football team, immediately begins his tenure.