ACU vice president for athletics Zack Lassiter has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, replacing former WAC commissioner Brian Thornton, who announced he was leaving the conference on Oct. 10.
Lassiter will serve out the remaining four years of Thorton’s five-year term, which expires in 2029, on the 12-person committee.
“It is with great humility and enthusiasm that I accept the professional opportunity of a lifetime,” said Lassiter. “I believe the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the greatest events in all of sports. I’ve been involved with March Madness in many different capacities over the last two decades, but to serve in this role is incredibly exciting. I want to thank NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt and everyone else involved in the nomination process. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and put in the work necessary to continue to make this championship special for everyone.”
Lassiter has previously worked as a team administrator for programs who have made the NCAA Tournament, and as a tournament manager in Salt Lake City when he was at the University of Utah. He has also served on the NCAA Soccer Selection Committee and an NCAA committee focused on marketing women’s basketball.
The appointment does not bring any competitive advantage for the Wildcats, but Lassiter believes it is a big positive for ACU.
“One of the things athletics can do is to bring more attention nationally to the university,” he said. “To have someone from our university represented on this committee is pretty significant. If they’re familiar with ACU, what a great extension. If they’re not familiar, this is a great opportunity for me to share who we are and what we’re about.To do that on the biggest stage of college sports is something you can’t pay for. I’m excited to carry the ACU flag everywhere I go.”
The current committee members include commissioners from the Sun Belt, West Coast Conference and Big Sky, and athletic directors from North Carolina, Minnesota, Alabama, Georgetown, Samford, Temple, Manhattan and Oklahoma State. UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham serves as the committee chairperson.
“Zack’s role as a member of the selection committee presents a tremendous opportunity for ACU to take a leadership role in one of the most significant events in college sports,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president. “Zack is an innovative, passionate and principled leader, and he will represent ACU and the WAC well in this capacity.”
ACU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have achieved national success since the move to Division I athletics. In 2019, both squads won the Southland Conference and made their respective NCAA Tournaments. Two years later the men’s team scored the biggest victory in the history of Wildcats athletics by taking down three-seeded Texas in the first round, 53-52.
Since joining ACU’s department of athletics in November 2021, Lassiter has led ACU and its student-athletes to grow spiritually, achieve academic excellence and compete for championships.
The Wildcats have won two WAC championships and received three WAC Coach of the Year honors in Lassiter’s tenure.
Since his arrival, total athletics revenue has increased by 33%. Lassiter also successfully led a campaign to renovate Crutcher Scott Field, which attracted more than $16 million in gifts for the project. The renovations are ongoing and are scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2025.
ACU student-athletes also set a new department record GPA of 3.37 in both the fall and spring semesters during the 2023-24 academic year.
— Evan Nemec
Oct. 23, 2024