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You’re Not the Only One With Mixed Emotions, Mark

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University of Washington president Mark Emmert has announced that he’s leaving the university to become president of the NCAA. Paid $900,000 per year–what it takes to keep top talent these days–he raised almost $2.7 billion through 2008, per the Seattle Times. He lasted almost six years at the UW, following five years at LSU, and five at the University of Connecticut. Here is his farewell letter to UW students, faculty, and staff: 

Mark Emmert

It is with very mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know that today I have accepted the presidency of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. When I came home to the University of Washington in 2004, I knew there was no other university that I would want to be president of, and that remains true today after the six wonderful years DeLaine and I have enjoyed serving our alma mater. I am proud of the work we have done together and absent this truly extraordinary opportunity would have been happy continuing as president for many years to come.

The NCAA is one of the nation’s most influential collegiate organizations. Leading it offers a chance to shape the educational and athletic experiences of over 400,000 young people and to work with more than 1,200 universities, colleges and conferences to make intercollegiate sports a competitive, healthy, integral part of the growth and maturation of student-athletes. It also presents a new set of challenges for me. I am very excited about taking on these challenges and the opportunity to work with so many university and college presidents.

To my friends, colleagues, and students of the University of Washington, I offer a special word of thanks and appreciation. It has been my honor to serve you.  I am very proud of what we have accomplished together these past six years. Our university is a special place–by any measure one of the world’s leading research universities–because of all of you and the work you perform every day. I cannot thank you enough for your dedication, energy and enthusiasm. It is never a good time to leave one great job for another. I relish the challenges at the NCAA but will always love my time here. DeLaine and I always have been, and always will be, Huskies for life.

Sincerely,

Mark Emmert
President

2 thoughts on “You’re Not the Only One With Mixed Emotions, Mark”

  1. Just a polite warning to watch for the door hitting you on the way out.

    I like the fact the Seattle Times described him as a ‘rainmaker’ – so he’s the one to blame!

    My big concern with this shuffle is what it will mean to the 520 design. UW has been a huge obstruction in the planning, clearly putting out bad solutions in hope of getting concessions when they surrender these straw dogs.

    With a power gap in the interim, they can continue to play games, or perhaps someone at the U will have enough balls and foresight to make meaningful plans for the future. Nah.

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