SEC's Mike Slive to retire in 2015
— -- BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Mike Slive will retire as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference on July 31, 2015, after 13 years on the job, he said Tuesday.
Slive, 74, also announced that he is beginning treatment for a recurrence of prostate cancer, for which he was treated in the late 1990s.
"I have been blessed in more ways than I can count and I will have as much passion for this job on my last day as I did on my first," Slive said in a statement. "I consider my health situation a temporary detour in a remarkable road that has allowed me to meet amazing people, experience incredible events and celebrate historic victories. I will relish my final year in this position and look forward to being the biggest fan of the SEC for many years to come."
A national search for his successor will start this fall, said Nick Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, who serves as chair of the SEC presidents and chancellors.
The conference's seventh commissioner, Slive has overseen perhaps the greatest era of success since the league was founded in 1933. The SEC has enjoyed unprecedented championship success under Slive's leadership.
He led the adoption of a new and effective league-wide NCAA compliance initiative, engineered landmark television contracts including the launch of a conference network with ESPN, and guided the conference through expansion, welcoming two new institutions.
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