Michigan State's Mark Hollis resigns from post with LEAD1 AD committee

Mark Hollis’ tenure as the head of the Football Bowl Subdivision’s athletic directors ended before it even began.

The Michigan State athletic director confirmed that he has resigned his First Vice Chair position with LEAD1 for “personal reasons and to focus on the future of MSU.” His decision was first reported by WLNS-TV in Lansing.

Hollis also confirmed he will not assume the chairmanship of the organization as was scheduled to begin in July and run until July 2019. It was announced in October that he would take over the 129-school coalition from outgoing head Jack Swarbrick of Notre Dame.

Beginning his ninth year leading MSU’s athletic department, Hollis will finish his term as chairperson of the NCAA Men’s Division I Men’s Basketball Committee chairperson in March, after which his five-year term on the committee expires.

Formerly known as the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association, LEAD1 said in its October release that it plays a prominent role in “influencing how the rules of college sports are enacted and implemented, advocating for the future of college athletics and providing various services to the members, ranging from professional development to pooled purchasing arrangements.”

On Jan. 9, the Washington Post reported that LEAD1 plans “to form a political action committee to fund candidates for the House and Senate” in an effort to “quash proposals that would allow scholarship athletes to be paid.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.

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