NCAA Loses Chief, Former UA Dean Myles Brand
Myles Brand (Credit: Indiana University)
Brand, who was at the UA from 1981-89, led the NCAA on a number of reforms.
Former University of Arizona philosophy professor and dean Myles Brand has died. He was 67.
Up until his death on Wednesday from pancreatic cancer, Brand was president of the NCAA, the nation's governing body for intercollegiate athletics. Brand succeeded former UA athletic director Cedric Dempsey at the NCAA helm in 2003.
In 2004, Brand spearheaded efforts to deny perks to star college recruits and to penalize schools for their student athletes who did not meet standards for academic progress. He also led calls for an end to college mascots thought to demean American Indians.
Brand came to the UA in 1981 as to head the philosophy department. His academic field was specializing in analytical metaphysics and the philosophy of the mind.
In 1983, was named dean of the UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In 1986, he left the UA to become the provost at Ohio State University, and in 1989 became the president of the Univerity of Oregon. Brand also held posts at the University of Illinois and University of Pittsburgh.
His most controversial decision may have come as president of Indiana University when he fired iconic head basketball coach Bobby Knight in 2000 for abusive behavior toward players.
Brand is survived by his wife, Margaret, and a son from a previous marriage.
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