Chris Graham Named Commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Graham as its new Commissioner, bringing a nationally respected leader in collegiate athletics to the helm of NCAA Division II's most successful conference.
Graham will assume the role following an 11-year tenure as Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), where he led the league to unprecedented growth and national prominence. He becomes the Sunshine State Conference's seventh Commissioner following a proven record of enhancing the student-athlete experience, improving officiating standards, and developing innovative partnerships.
"We on the Presidents Council of the Sunshine State Conference are thrilled to welcome Chris Graham as our new Commissioner," stated Dr. James J. Annarelli, Eckerd College President and Chair of the SSC Presidents Council. "Chris brings to this role three decades of experience in intercollegiate athletics, including extensive experience as a conference commissioner; a deep understanding of the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics and a creative vision for its future; an unwavering dedication to the enhancement of the student-athlete experience; and a strong commitment to the mission and values of the SSC. We are very excited about the future of our Conference under Chris’ leadership and are grateful to Dr. Kurt Patberg of Mammoth Sports Consulting for his assistance with this important search."
During his time with the RMAC, Graham expanded the league to 15 members, launched three new championship sports, including men's and women's lacrosse, and led the RMAC's adoption of women's wrestling as a championship sport, a first for Division II. He has served in several influential NCAA leadership roles, including Chair of the Division II Management Council, was an NCAA Board of Governors member, and held appointments to committees on Championships, Planning and Finance, Mental Health, and Rules. He was a key voice during the NCAA's COVID-19 response and the implementation of the new NCAA Constitution, helping reshape governance at the Division II level.
Graham has championed student-athlete well-being throughout his career, promoting mental health initiatives, safety standards, and enhanced championship experiences. He has also been at the forefront of officiating reform nationwide and currently serves on the Collegiate Commissioners Officiating Working Group.
"My sincere appreciation to President Annarelli, the Presidents Council, and the search committee for their support of my candidacy,” commented Graham. “The Sunshine State Conference is the Division II leader in combined academic and athletic excellence, and I am excited to represent its distinguished student-athletes. There is potential within the SSC for even greater success and growth and I look forward to the opportunity with great enthusiasm."
Graham holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Ripon College. His wife, Penny, and their three daughters, Alaina, Sydney, and Nora, join him in this new chapter.
SSC Commissioner Timeline
- Dick Pace (1976 - 1986)
- Bob Vanatta (1986 - 1994)
- Don Landry (1994 - 2004)
- Mike Marcil (2004 - 2009)
- Jay Jones (2009 - 2014)
- Ed Pasque (2014 - 2024)
- Chris Graham (2025 - )
About the Sunshine State Conference
Founded in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference has risen from a single sports organization to the Division II "Conference of National Champions." Since its inception, the conference has shown steady growth in sports played, membership, and national prominence. Member institutions have won a total of 131 NCAA national championships across 14 sports and boast an NCAA Division II record 90% Academic Success Rate.
The SSC consists of 11 member institutions, all within the state of Florida: Barry University (Miami Shores), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach), Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne), Florida Southern College (Lakeland), Lynn University (Boca Raton), Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale), Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach), Rollins College (Winter Park), Saint Leo University (Saint Leo), and the University of Tampa.