Myles Brand Dies at 67

Myles Brand, who fired basketball coach Bob Knight for bad behavior at Indiana University and later led a crackdown by college sports’ governing body on academic failure, died today.

Brand died Wednesday afternoon at age 67, ending a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He had continued in his job after his diagnosis with the disease in January, cutting back on public appearances but maintaining a presence in the NCAA's Indianapolis offices until recent weeks.

He passed away at his home in Indianapolis, surrounded by family, the association said.

Tributes began pouring in immediately.

"Myles Brand was a dear friend and a great academic leader. ... a tireless advocate for the student-athlete," said Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia and chairman of the NCAA Executive Committee, which will select his successor. "Indeed, he worked to ensure that the student was first in the student-athlete model. He will be greatly missed."

Myles Brand was born on May 17, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. He played basketball and ran track in high school, and played a year of basketball and lacrosse at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Brand is the fourth president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, was credited with increasing commercial opportunities and broadening revenue distribution among member schools, while trying to make athletes more a part of the overall student body.

Brand is survived by his wife, Peg, and a son, Joshua.

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