Walter Byers, the first executive director of the NCAA, died at age 93.
Byers took over the NCAA in 1951 and retired in 1987 and is credited with making the Final Four a national event, forwarding broadcast right and creating the NCAA enforcement arm.
“Walter Byers had a lasting impact on college sports, from those who compete on the field to the educators who support them,” current NCAA president Mark Emmert said. “As the NCAA’s first full-time executive director, he shepherded the growing Association by encouraging academic excellence as a central part of college sports. Our thoughts are with Walter’s friends and family during this difficult time.”