New commissioner hired to lead RSC

Written By Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor

The River States Conference announced the hiring of its second full-time commissioner last week.

Michael Schell will lead the conference after serving as either the athletic director or assistant athletic director at Oregon Institute of Technology for 20 years. He replaces Scott McClure, who resigned after a two-year stint as the league’s first full-time commissioner last August.

Joe Glover, Indiana University (IU) Southeast’s director of athletics, served as the interim commissioner while the conference conducted a nation-wide search for McClure’s replacement. McClure resigned to take a new job as the assistant athletic director at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho.

An official start date will be announced in the near future as “relocation logistics are better known,” according to the conference press release announcing the hire. Glover will continue to assist the conference as it makes the leadership transition.

“I am honored to have been chosen the Commissioner of the River States Conference,” Schell said in the release.  “The River States Conference member schools have a strong foundation, and I am excited to represent them in our pursuit to be one of the best conferences in the NAIA.”

Schell was selected as the new commissioner by the presidents and chancellors from the 13 member schools in the conference. IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace is the chair of the council. Point Park President, Paul Hennigan, serves as the vice-chair of the executive committee.

“The presidents and chancellors of the 13 institutions from five state represented in the Rivers States Conference were impressed with Schell’s credentials,” Wallace said in the release. “We look forward to working closely with our new commissioner to make our conference an even strong NAIA powerhouse.”