Dr. Scott Crawford Selected As Next Commissioner Of Frontier Conference

Dr. Scott Crawford of Kansas, has been selected as the next commissioner of the Frontier Conference.

Crawford has served as commissioner of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) since 2007. Prior to his time with the KCAC, he was the commissioner of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, an assistant commissioner for the Mid-South Conference, and worked a variety of other athletic-related positions.

“Dr. Crawford brings 16 years of experience as a Commissioner of one of the NAIA’s largest athletic conferences to the Frontier Conference,” Dr. John Cech, co-chair of the search, John Cech said. “He comes to the table with many ideas to both strengthen and grow our conference which is already known across the nation as one of the most competitive conferences in the NAIA.” “I am thrilled to return to the Northwest, Crawford, an Idaho native, said. “Accepting this new challenge and assuming the day-to-day leadership of the Frontier Conference with the energy and enthusiasm it deserves. I thank Dr. John Cech, Dr. Les Cook, and the other members of the Frontier Conference’s Council of Presidents for extending this opportunity to me. I will strive to honor the legacy of past commissioners of the Frontier Conference, including my friend Kent Paulson, in my approach to growing the conference in terms of membership, sport expansion, and overall profile.”

Crawford has worked in a variety of leadership roles in the NAIA including chair of the NAIA Conference Commissioners Association. He is currently Chair of the NAIA’s National Coordinating Committee.

Crawford was inducted into the Kansas Collegiate Officials Hall of Fame as well as being recognized as the NAIA’s Administrator of the Year in 2012-13. He was also engaged in his community as a former member of the board of education for the Maize School District and participant in the Leadership Wichita Class of 2016.

Crawford has both a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University of Utah.

He has a Master of Science Degree in sport administration and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership and organizational development from the University of Louisville. “Scott is an incredible hire for our conference and brings not only a wealth of experience and ideas, but passion and energy to help grow and strengthen the conference,” Dr. Les Cook, search co-chair said.

Crawford will replace Kent Paulson, who began his tenure in 2009 and is the longest serving commissioner of the conference. Crawford will begin his tenure with the Frontier on September 1, 2023. “The conference owes a great deal of gratitude to Kent and his wife Joan for their many years of service and care,” Cech said.

Cech noted Paulson was given the honorific title of “Commissioner Emeritus” at the Frontier Conference annual meeting in Whitefish last month.

“On Behalf of the nine Frontier Conference presidents and chancellors in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona, we look forward to welcoming Scott and his family to Montana in the year ahead,” Cech said.