Mountain West will have a new commissioner as Craig Thompson announces plan to step down
The only commissioner the Mountain West has ever known is stepping down.
The conference announced Wednesday that Craig Thompson will step down on Dec. 31, ending his 24-year run leading the league.
The Mountain West was created in 1998 and officially began operations in January of 1999.
Thompson cited the recent decision of the College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams as a final accomplishment he wanted to see before stepping down.
“My one remaining priority was expansion of the College Football Playoff and viable access for the Mountain West,” Thompson said in a news release. “I take considerable pride in my committed engagement to this effort over the past two-and-a-half decades and look forward to the finalization of those details in the coming months. With CFP expansion accomplished and having invested almost a third of my life in the Mountain West, the time is now right for me to conclude my tenure and allow the Conference to continue its momentum under new leadership.”
Forming the MW:The inside story on how the Mountain West was created
On Oct. 15, 1998, the new league hired Thompson, who was commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference at the time. He had previously helped launch the American South Conference and served as its first commissioner.
The Mountain West was formed as a breakaway from the WAC, with Colorado State one of the schools leading the charge.
The 66-year-old Thompson has helped negotiate nearly $600 million in TV revenue and five MW teams have participated in BCS or New Year's Six bowl games.
Conference membership has also fluctuated greatly. CSU, Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State and Wyoming were original members who are still in the league.
BYU and Utah left in 2011 and TCU in 2012. Boise State joined in 2011 with Fresno State, Hawaii (football only), Nevada and San Jose State following shortly after.
The MW has thus far been left untouched in the most recent rounds of realignment, but both the Pac-12 and Big 12 could be eyeing some member schools in possible expansion.
At the same time, the MW has chosen not to add so far during realignment.
The Mountain West was the first conference to launch its own cable television network. The Mtn. launched on Sept. 1, 2006, beating Big Ten Network to air by a year.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson to step down at end of 2022
