The D1A Athletic Directors' Association (the "Association") recently concluded its annual meeting in Dallas, where the Association concluded a year-long process to redefine the role the Association intends to play in shaping the future of collegiate athletics. The redefinition includes a rebranding of the Association with the new name, LEAD1, and a new mission statement.

LEAD1's mission statement is, "Supporting the athletic directors of America's leading intercollegiate programs in preparing today's students to be tomorrow's leaders."

SME, a New York based creative agency, led the rebranding effort. LEAD1, the Association's new name, symbolizes the important role of athletic directors ("ADs") as key influencers in college sports. The mission statement reflects the student-centric focus of LEAD1 and its members.

At the annual meeting, Mark Hollis, the Athletics Director of Michigan State University and current chair of the NCAA Men's Division I Men's Basketball Committee, was selected as First Vice-Chair of LEAD1. Hollis will assume the Chairmanship of LEAD1 on July 1, 2017. Dan Radakovich, the Director of Athletics at Clemson University and current member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, was elected Second Vice-Chair and will succeed Hollis as Chair in July 2019.

Reflecting LEAD1's commitment to shape the rules that govern college athletics and advocate for its future, its members agreed to explore forming a political action committee ("PAC"), which would be the first in college sports.

The Association also announced that next year's annual meeting will be held in Washington, D.C.

Tom McMillen, the President and Chief Executive Officer of LEAD1 who served three terms in Congress, stated, "This has been a tremendous first year for me. Moving forward on the rebranding is a fitting end to it with the new beginning of LEAD1 as a force for ADs. I am very grateful for the support from the members that have made my service so rewarding. I was especially pleased that the members agreed to hold next year's annual meeting in our nation's capital and to explore the formation of a PAC, ensuring that the voices of the LEAD1 ADs will be heard by Members of Congress and other key decision makers in Washington, D.C. and across the country."

Dr. Mike McGee received the 26th Homer Rice Award at the annual meeting in recognition of his contributions to college sports as a player, coach, and athletic director.

"I could not be more satisfied with how the annual meeting turned out along with the progress made over the last year with Tom McMillen as the head of LEAD1," noted Jack Swarbrick, Chairman of the Board of LEAD1 and the Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame. "Two years ago we started a process to reshape D1A into an association that could better support our members in the complicated work that they engage in on behalf of student-athletes. While we have much that still must be done, the progress to date has been very significant and can be seen in our impact on the most important pieces of NCAA legislation, our decision to explore the creation of a PAC, and, most importantly, the engagement of our members."

LEAD1 is an association representing the 129 ADs from the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, which are located in 44 states across America. Essential to the LEAD1 mission are influencing how the rules of college sports are enacted and implemented, advocating for the future of college athletics, and providing various services to the members, ranging from professional development to pooled purchasing arrangements.