Stanford AD To Be Introduced As Big 12 Commissioner Friday

A press release from the Oklahoma athletic department confirmed Thursday that Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby has accepted the open Big 12 commissioner's position and will be introduced Friday.

According to an Associated Press source, Bowlsby told coaches and staff Thursday that he is leaving to become the Big 12 Conference Commissioner and that he will remain with the Cardinal until June. 

Bowlsby will take over for interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas, who has served after former commissioner Dan Beebe stepped down in September.

The Big 12 Conference announced Thursday afternoon that a press conference is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. CST.

Bowlsby is in his sixth full season at Stanford. He was hired away from Iowa in 2006, following 15 years running the Hawkeyes' athletic department. Bowlsby has helped oversee the transformation of the Stanford football program back into a national power.

Bowlsby will take over a BCS conference that seems to have found some stability after losing four schools over the past two years. It will head into this fall with 10 members, including two new additions in TCU and West Virginia.