Cedric Dempsey

Cedric Warren Dempsey (April 14, 1932 – April 5, 2025) was an American sports administrator who became the third executive director of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 1994 to 2003.^[1] Before leaving the post in 2002, Dempsey restructured the organization, cracked down on gambling in college sports, emphasized financial responsibility, and negotiated major television contracts with ESPN and CBS.^[2]

Cedric Dempsey

Biographical details
Born	(1932-04-14)April 14, 1932 Equality, Illinois, U.S.
Died	April 5, 2025(2025-04-05) (aged 92) San Diego, California, U.S.
Playing career
Football
c. 1953	Albion
Basketball
?–1954	Albion
Baseball
?–1954	Albion
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1959–1962	Albion
1963–1965	Arizona (assistant)
Cross country
1959–1962	Albion
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1965–1967	Arizona (assistant AD)
1967–1979	Pacific (CA)
1979	San Diego State
1979–1982	Houston
1983–1993	Arizona
1994–2002	NCAA (president)
2007–2010	AAFL (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall	29–35 (basketball)

Dempsey served as the athletic director at the University of the Pacific (1967–1979), San Diego State University (1979), University of Houston (1979–1982) and the University of Arizona (1983–1993). Dempsey's tenure at Arizona was noted for raising the university's national prominence in NCAA sports, particularly in basketball, football, softball and golf.^[3] He also served as Commissioner of the All American Football League (2007–2010).^[4]

Dempsey died in San Diego, California on April 5, 2025, at the age of 92.^[5]