Harter resigns NCAA post

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998 | 2:06 a.m.

UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter, a member of the executive committee of the NCAA's Division I Board of Directors -- the powerful governing body that makes policy for the organization -- has resigned her position effective immediately.

Several Western Athletic Conference presidents, specifically Hawaii's Kenneth Mortimer and Rice's Malcolm Gillis, were concerned about Harter maintaining her position on the NCAA board with UNLV withdrawing from the WAC next June. The remaining WAC presidents wanted one of their own to serve in that spot.

However, Harter said she was not pressured into her decision.

"This was my decision," she said. "I don't feel uncomfortable with it. With this being our last year in the WAC, I wanted to help make it the best it can be and to help make the transition as smooth as possible."

Mortimer and Gillis were not available for comment today. However, San Jose State president Dr. Robert Caret said Harter did the right thing.

"She was in an untenable position trying to serve the WAC on the NCAA board while at the same time trying to serve the needs of the departing eight," he said. "It was clearly a conflict and we counseled her on that."

Harter made her decision Monday night and informed WAC commissioner Karl Benson. She was expected to announce her plans to her WAC colleagues today, when the 16 presidents meet via conference call.

"I want to do what's best for the WAC as a whole," she said. "There has been a lot of speculation as to what was going to happen and this should end it.

"I have enjoyed working with my colleagues on the board and the executive committee the past two years. I believe it is important, however, for the remaining WAC members to feel comfortable that their representative can serve without a conflict of interest or even the appearance of such a conflict."

She said it was in everyone's best interests that she resign immediately rather than wait until the end of the year, the final season the WAC will be a 16-team league. UNLV and seven other schools announced in May they are leaving the WAC to form their own conference which will begin play next year.

Caret said it was important the WAC maintain its presence on the NCAA board.

"It's vital," he said. "What this does is re-affirm we're the WAC and it shows that the conference will continue to have a voice at the highest level of the decision-making process."

The yet-to-be-named league has not been guaranteed a spot on the NCAA board but Harter is confident that once the new conference has established itself, an invitation would be extended.

"I hope the new league will get a seat on the board at some point and if we do, I'd be honored to be involved," she said.

Harter, who has been on the board since 1996, had previously served on the NCAA Presidents Commission for four years while at Division III State University of New York at Geneseo. The Presidents Commission was the prelude to the Board of Directors, which was established in '96. Her appointment expires in 2000.