The last day of June has come and gone, and with it ends the 26-year tenure of Pac-10 Conference commissioner Tom Hansen (Washington '59). The league's fifth-ever commissioner, Hansen started his reign on July 1, 1983. He studied journalism at UW, then took a job at The Columbian in Vancouver. From there, he took a job as the public-relations director for the conference and served in that role from 1960 to 1967. Hansen spent 16 years working for the NCAA before returning to the Pac-10 as commissioner in 1983.
The Sporting News wrote this Q&A with Hansen that published on Monday.
Hansen is succeeded by Larry Scott, who was named to the post in late March.
While I rarely agreed with Hansen during his time at the Pac-10, I think the conference deserves more respect, revenue and national exposure. He is a Husky so I wish him well.