Duer Sharp Last College: B.S., M.S., Afro-American Studies, Wisconsin

COMMISSIONER

Duer Sharp is completing his first full year as Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Sharp, who began his duties officially on January 2, 2008, as the SWAC's fifth commissioner, joined the SWAC staff in 2004. As assistant commissioner, the Camden, New Jersey, was responsible for overseeing the conference governance structure and officiating programs for football and men's basketball.

Named associate commissioner in June 2005, Sharp served as the coordinator of the football championship and basketball tournament director, as well as managed the day-to-day operations of the SWAC office. His duties also included the enforcement of 18 intercollegiate sports in accordance with SWAC and NCAA policies.

While at the Southwestern Atheltic Conference, he has served as an alternate on the NCAA Division I Management Council and was a member of the FCS Regional Advisory Committee. Currently, Sharp is a member of the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance and Minority Opportunity and Interest Committee (MOIC).

From October 2005 to June 2006 Sharp was the interim athletics director at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana.

Prior to joining the SWAC, Sharp spent six years as a sports management administrator at the Big Ten Conference. During that time Sharp worked with a number of coaches and administrative groups as a staff liaison.

Sharp received his bachelors and master's degrees in Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a four-year starter for the Badger football team (1988-1991). He was the recipient of Jay Seiler award for team leadership and was the recipient of Kappa Alpha Psi Tom W. Shick Scholarship awarded for intellectual vigor, concern for social justice and equality.

The 39-year-old Sharp is married to Sandy, and the couple resides in Birmingham.