One of the most prominent advocates of the movement to shift the college soccer schedule to a year-round calendar has taken a major role in the upper reaches of the NCAA's leadership.
News broke on Wednesday that former Houston Dynamo executive Oliver Luck is joining the NCAA as the executive vice president of regulatory affairs, a new position in which he will report directly to NCAA president Mark Emmert.
“This is a time of fundamental change in intercollegiate athletics that will set the foundation for the years ahead,” Luck, 54, said in a statement. “The challenges both internal and external to the NCAA present a unique opportunity to help shape the landscape for hundreds of thousands of young men and women. It is an honor to join President Emmert, the NCAA staff, and our member institutions in this journey.”
In September Luck, who leaves behind his previous post as West Virginia University's athletic director, joined with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on an initiative to change the NCAA season from its current fall-only schedule to a spring/fall structure more friendly to player development, and more in keeping with the norms of the global game. The coaches' plan has drawn support from across Major League Soccer, which still pulls much of its young talent from the college ranks despite the growth of its youth academy system.
“Ultimately it’s good for the game and the growth of college players, who will get more quality training sessions, more time on the ball, better recovery time, and less disruption to their academic schedules,” Luck told AmericanSoccerNow.com in September.
“If we do it intelligently I think it can work. One way we can test that out is by expanding the season to support the academic and athletic development of soccer players, which could also improve our ability to promote the game and support its growth financially. Instead of accepting the status quo, which simply says soccer is a fall sport in college, why not have a soccer game on a beautiful April afternoon, and hold the College Cup in good weather instead of in December?”
With NCAA based in Indianapolis, Luck's new job means he'll move closer to his son, Andrew, a quarterback with the Indianapolis Colts and noted soccer aficionado.
