Michael Cross To Depart The Southern Conference
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Southern Conference today announced that Commissioner Michael “M.C.” Cross, Ph.D., has stepped down, concluding a tenure marked by meaningful growth for the league and its member institutions.
Commissioner Cross led the conference through a period of significant growth during his tenure. Highlights included a six-year extension of the SoCon’s media rights agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports, securing national exposure for member institutions through the 2031–32 academic year, and the conference’s first membership expansion in more than a decade. He secured a 10-year extension of the league’s basketball championships in Asheville through 2035, making it one of the most stable championship partnerships in college athletics, and saw the SoCon modernize its branding with new graphics and the “It’s All Here” trademark. Record-setting revenue from the basketball, baseball and volleyball championships also occurred under his leadership among many other improvements to the conference’s broadcast, championship, and business operations.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Southern Conference and its member institutions, and I am proud of what we accomplished together,” Cross said. “I am grateful to the Council of Presidents for the opportunity and for the many relationships formed along the way. I cannot say enough about the SoCon staff who embraced the ‘It’s All Here’ mindset on a daily basis and worked tirelessly for our eleven member institutions to execute at the highest level.”
“M.C. brought strategic vision and thoughtful leadership to the Southern Conference, and the league is stronger from his service,” said Dr. Kelli R. Brown, Chancellor of Western Carolina University and current Chair of the SoCon Presidents Council. “We are appreciative for all he contributed and wish him and his family the very best in the years ahead.”
The Conference will share details regarding interim leadership and the search for its next commissioner in the coming weeks.
About the Southern Conference
Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., the Southern Conference is an NCAA Division I conference competing at the FCS level in football. The league comprises 11 member institutions across the Southeast.