Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen plans to step down next summer

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Pac-10 leader Tom Hansen, the longest-tenured Division I conference commissioner in the country, will retire next summer after 26 years on the job.

"When I started there in the 1960s, it was the Pac-5, Pac-6, then Pac-8," Hansen said in a phone interview Monday. "Then, in 1978, the Arizonas came in. I've seen it grow so much."

Hansen will step down effective July 1, 2009. So far, Pac-10 teams have won 204 NCAA championships during his time as commissioner and he has seen the emergence of Pac-10 football and basketball in recent years — including men's basketball being considered perhaps the strongest conference in the nation this past season.

Hansen, 70, said his age was the biggest factor in his decision.

"I don't have the same energy level that I did when I was younger and this is a very demanding job," Hansen told The Seattle Times on Monday. He referred to the travel requirements, which have become greater and more difficult in recent years.

Hansen said he announced his retirement so the conference will have ample time to find a replacement.

Hansen said Pac-10 presidents will form a search committee to bring them candidates, with the presidents making the final choice. Hansen said he will be able to stay past July 1, 2009, if needed, to get a new person in place. If a new hire is found earlier, Hansen said he will stay through July 1, 2009, to help in the transition.

Hansen has Washington roots. He grew up in Castle Rock, in southwestern Washington.

His wife, Melva, attended Queen Anne High School and Pacific Lutheran University.

After Hansen visited Husky Stadium with his father for a game in 1950, he was determined to attend the University of Washington some day.

He did, after two years at Lower Columbia Junior College. Hansen studied journalism at UW, then took a job at The Columbian in Vancouver. From there, he took a job as the public-relations director for the conference and served in that role from 1960 to 1967.

Hansen spent 16 years working for the NCAA before returning to the Pac-10 as commissioner in 1983.

"It has been a unique opportunity and an honor to be associated with the 10 outstanding institutions of higher education which comprise the Pac-10 conference," Hansen said. "I want to thank them for the opportunity to be Pac-10 commissioner."

Hansen played a key role in the development of the Bowl Championship Series and increased the exposure for his conference through improved television opportunities for football and basketball.

He also was part of the expansion for women's opportunities.

"Those two things fill me with a great sense of pride," Hansen said. "The addition and then the development of the women's programs is notable. And I'm very proud of my work in developing the BCS, which is a tremendous success for college football to strengthen the regular season and preserve the bowl season that is very important to many Division I institutions in the NCAA. It has been a real positive development for college football."

Times staff reporters Bob Condotta and Bud Withers contributed to this article.