The Union College Athletics Department mourns the loss of Myles Brand, the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, who passed away Wednesday at age 67. Brand, who assumed his duties on January 1, 2003, was the fourth president in NCAA history.
"Myles Brand was an individual who truly understood the values and potential of the student-athlete at every level. First and foremost, he will be considered as a reformer who worked tirelessly to promote the academic achievements and accomplishments of the student athlete. He appreciated the organization's past and paved the path for its future with his service to college athletics."
-Union College Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin.
Beth Taimi, Union Associate Director of Athletics, served as an intern in the NCAA office in Indianapolis in 2004-05.
"Myles was a tremendous leader who provided guidance and strong direction to the NCAA staff and member institutions over the course of his six-plus years in office. He valued the role of athletics on college campuses across the country, and protecting the well-being of student-athletes was his first priority. The legacy that Myles built - of diversity and inclusion initiatives, emphasis on graduation rates, and the protection of amateurism - will continue to resonate with student-athletes and member institutions well beyond his tenure as president."
Eric McDowell, Union Assistant Athletic Director/Sports information, was invited to the NCAA headquarters along with fellow members of the board of the College Sports Information Directors of America in 2008, and met with Dr. Brand and other NCAA officials.
"Dr. Brand looked to us as the messengers of his message to highlight the academic achievements of student-athletes at all levels. He spoke to our organization's board in Indianapolis about our value and our role in college athletics. He also accepted our invitation to become the first NCAA President to speak at the CoSIDA Convention. Dr. Brand will be missed by all of us in our profession and we will continue his legacy by promoting not only the wonderful achievements in the playing arena, but also the remarkable achievements of students in the classroom and the community."
In 2006, former Union student Erika Eisenhut ''06 met Dr. Brand when she received the ECAC Robbins Scholar Athlete Award in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Eisenhut also was a national finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year.
"As student-athletes, we have lost a great leader in Myles Brand, who contributed so much to what being a collegiate athlete is all about. He strove to promote the academic aspect of college athletics as well as push for post-graduate educations for NCAA athletes. I feel particularly thankful to Myles for these things in addition to his contributions to women's athletics. I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to meet such an influential figure in the NCAA and I am thankful for all he has done; he will be greatly missed."
In 1995, Dr. Brand visited the Union College campus during the campus Bicentennial. He came to honor the celebration of the college and talked about the importance of athletics in liberal arts colleges.
