Grand Canyon University Athletics
WAC tabs Thornton from AAC as new commissioner
11/4/2021 4:07:00 PM | General
Former American Athletic, NCAA basketball executive replaces Hurd
The WAC named Brian Thornton as its next commissioner on Thursday to replace Jeff Hurd, who led the conference for the past 10 years of his 37-year tenure.
"I would like to start by thanking Jeff Hurd for his incredible 30-plus years of dedicated service to the WAC," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "He has always been there through the good and the challenging times. Brian (Thornton) is the perfect person to take the rebuilt WAC forward. His knowledge of NCAA athletics and his strong strategic view of the future is very impressive, and we all look forward to building a very bright future together."
Thornton joins the WAC following one year as associate commissioner for basketball at the American Athletic Conference. In that role, he served as the primary administrator for men's and women's basketball, including oversight of scheduling, officiating and game operations, as well as compliance with NCAA governance.
"I would like to thank the Western Athletic Conference Board of Directors for the opportunity to lead this historic conference during this unprecedented time in collegiate athletics," Thornton said. "While the WAC name is certainly a storied one, the current mix of institutions share a common bond as growth-focused with a strong desire to compete at the highest level while also providing an elite student-athlete experience."
Thornton joined the American after two years as assistant director for basketball development at the NCAA national headquarters. He was responsible for developing relationships with constituents in the men's and women's basketball communities, including coaches, apparel companies and professional basketball organizations. He additionally served as a liaison to the NCAA men's and women's basketball oversight committees, developing legislative concepts to foster the growth and development of college basketball.
Thornton was a standout men's basketball player at Xavier, where he was the 2005 and 2006 Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year, a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection and a first-team all-conference pick for the Musketeers' 2006 Atlantic 10 championship team. He began his playing career at Vanderbilt, where he was an SEC All-Freshman selection in 2002 before playing professionally for the Artland Dragons in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga from 2006-07.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Thornton earned an undergraduate degree in business from Xavier in 2005 and added a Master of Business Administration from that institution in 2007. Brian and his wife, Kelsey, have a daughter, Makayla, and a son, Brian Jr. (Deuce).
What others say on Thornton
- Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley: "We are excited about the leadership and future-focused vision that Brian Thornton will bring to the WAC. He is a student-athlete-centric leader that will continue the growth and expansion of the WAC footprint."
- Utah Valley President Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez: "I am thrilled to have Brian Thornton as the new WAC commissioner. Coming from Utah, the No. 1 state economy in the U.S. this year, UVU is eager to continue growing in athletics and to take advantage of new opportunities with our new commissioner and our dynamic peers in the WAC."
- Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Jeff Jackson: "Brian will be a great leader in the WAC. His tremendous aptitude and capacity for work, combined with a great ability to bring different groups together, will serve his constituents well in a very fluid and dynamic time in college athletics."
- Xavier Associate Athletic Director for Basketball Administration Mario Mercurio: "Congratulations to Brian! Whether as a student-athlete or staff member, Brian always represented himself and Xavier University in a first-class manner."
- Louisville men's basketball head coach Chris Mack: "It comes as no surprise to see Brian named commissioner of the WAC. He's as bright and innovative as they come. He's an achiever in athletics with a tremendous mind for business. The WAC is lucky to have him."
