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Michigan State AD Mark Hollis named 2017 NCAA tournament chair

Mark Hollis, Mark Dantonio

In this Oct. 22, 2011, photo, Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis, left, talks with football coach Mark Dantonio before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in East Lansing, Mich. The Big Ten, which helped squash the notion of a four-team playoff to crown a national champion in college football several years ago, is taking another look. “All of the Big Ten athletic directors are comfortable exploring the possibility of a four-team playoff,” Hollis said Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. “Four is better than two.” (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

AP

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis has been named the chairman of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, the NCAA announced on Tuesday.

He will work as the vice chair for the 2015-16 season under Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione.

“I love college sports. Over the past 35 years, I have been afforded the opportunity to learn and collaborate with a diverse collection of individuals through sports on campus,” Hollis said in a statement. “Sharing the passion, integrity and dedication of the men and women serving on the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee, I look forward to continuing my commitment to the values of education and student-athletes. College athletics provides amazing opportunities for today’s students and value for our nation’s collective future. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is a platform that allows us to share with the world a small glimpse of those broad educational, leadership, teamwork and athletic opportunities available to 460,000 student-athletes annually.”

“It is with great responsibility, humility and appreciation that I serve on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee, and I look forward to working with our committee, 2016 Chairman Joe Castiglione, Dan Gavitt and the rest of the NCAA staff over the upcoming seasons.”

Hollis has been one of college basketball’s most innovative minds. He was the driving force behind college basketball games being played in domes and sparked the surge of games being played on Aircraft Carriers, an idea that worked swimmingly for about a year and a half. He also got Michigan State to play games on air force bases overseas.