Air Force Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, Named New College Football Playoff Executive Director Ahead of Expansion to 12 Teams
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the current superintendent of the Air Force Academy, has been appointed as the new executive director of the College Football Playoff. He will succeed Bill Hancock, who is retiring, and will lead the playoff into its expanded 12-team format starting in the 2024 season.
Mark Keenum, Mississippi State president and chairman of the CFP Board of Managers, praised Clark’s background, noting his experience leading the Air Force Academy and his history as a four-year letter winner with the U.S. Air Force football team.
Hancock, who previously served as the first full-time director of the NCAA Final Four for men’s basketball and as the first administrator of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), has been instrumental in the growth of the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. He announced his retirement in June but will remain until February 2025 to assist with the transition.
Clark expressed gratitude for Hancock’s guidance, acknowledging the challenge of stepping into such a significant role. He also highlighted the excitement surrounding the playoff’s expansion, describing college football as an American tradition unlike any other.
Clark’s own football background includes being a four-year letter winner at Air Force, where he played during a successful senior season that saw the Falcons ranked eighth in the final AP Top 25 with a 12-1 record.
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