West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, the father of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and a former NFL quarterback himself, is stepping down to take a leadership position with the NCAA.
Luck will be the executive vice president of regulatory affairs, a new position. An NCAA release announcing the hire said the move brings "the national office regulatory functions -- academic and membership affairs, the Eligibility Center and enforcement -- under one umbrella." Luck will begin at the NCAA early next year.
ESPN.com reported that Luck, who has a law degree, would in essence be second-in-command to NCAA president Mark Emmert. Emmert has been heavily criticized for being out of touch and always a step behind throughout his NCAA tenure.
"This is a time of fundamental change in intercollegiate athletics that will set the foundation for the years ahead," Luck said in the NCAA's news release.
The NCAA said there was a national search to fill the job and that a search committee of representatives from NCAA schools recommended Luck.
Luck, 54, is a WVU grad who became the school's athletic director in August 2010. He served on the College Football Playoff selection committee this season, but his new role means he will have to leave that group.
Luck played at WVU from 1978-81, then was a second-round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1982. He played five seasons in the NFL, appearing in 20 games for the Oilers. After retiring following the '86 season, he finished up his law degree at Texas. He also has worked for the NFL, including serving as president and CEO of NFL Europe.
Presumably, his new job will include a move to Indianapolis, where the NCAA is headquartered. That means he would be in the same town as Andrew.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
