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Collegiate Advisory Council

The USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council is a first-of-its-kind group established to strengthen Olympic and Paralympic sports in the American collegiate system. Chaired by Bernard Muir, director of athletics at Stanford University, the 12-member council is comprised of collegiate administrators and Team USA athletes who advocate for broad-based Olympic and Paralympic sport programming on campus and represent institutions that have historically contributed to Team USA’s success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


The CAC is rooted in its mission: Strengthen and lead collaboration efforts to align our country's unique collegiate athletic landscape and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements to support Team USA's collegiate athletes. It operates through three core programming areas: alignment modeling, pathway strengthening and messanging integration.

  • Alignment modeling

    Align collegiate and NGB decision-makers to enhance development opportunities.

  • Pathway strengthening

    Advance sport pathways for student-athletes and coaches to strive for holistic excellence.

  • Messaging integration

    Celebrate Team USA's student-athletes to sustain and grow support for collegiate sport programs.

Members#

  • Bernard Muir speaks from a podium.

    Bernard Muir

    Collegiate Advisory Council Chair

    Stanford University, Director of Athletics

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  • Bubba Cunningham speaks at an event.

    Bubba Cunningham

    USOPC Board Member

    University of North Carolina, Athletic Director

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  • Greg Byrne attends a basketball game.

    Greg Byrne

    University of Alabama, Director of Athletics

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  • Jen Cohen (USC Athletic Director) speaks at a podium.

    Jennifer Cohen

    University of Southern California, Director of Athletics

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  • Lauren Crandall competes for Team USA in field hockey.

    Lauren Crandall

    Wake Forest University, Athlete

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  • Mark Harlan (University of Utah Athletic Director) speaks at a press conference.

    Mark Harlan

    University of Utah, Director of Athletics

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  • Jessica Heims competes at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

    Jessica Heims

    University of Northern Iowa, Athlete

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  • Chaunte Lowe holds up the US flag.

    Chaunte Lowe

    Georgia Tech University, Athlete

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  • Rob Mullens celebrates at a University of Oregon football game.

    Rob Mullens

    University of Oregon, Athletic Director

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  • Jamie Pollard celebrates a victory.

    Jamie Pollard

    Iowa State University, Director of Athletics

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  • Kendall Spencer sitting on stage and speaking.

    Kendall Spencer

    University of New Mexico, Athlete

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  • Scott Stricklin speaks from a podium.

    Scott Stricklin

    University of Florida, Athletic Director

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We would like to thank the following past CAC members for their service to the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council:

  • Sandy Barbour - Former Penn State University - Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Bob Bowlsby - Former Big 12 Conference Commissioner
  • Chris Plonsky - University of Texas - Chief of Staff, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director
  • Gene Smith - Former Ohio State University - Senior Vice President, Director of Athletics
  • Kevin White - Former USOPC Board member & Former Duke University - Vice President, Director of Athletics