Jeff Long Named First Chairman of College Football Playoff Selection Committee

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Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics.

FAYETTEVILLE – Jeff Long, the University of Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, has been named the first chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee it was announced Monday by Bill Hancock, executive director of College Football Playoff.

As chairman, Long will set the Selection Committee’s agenda and run the committee’s meetings. Long will also serve as spokesman for the committee alongside Hancock.

“I’m very humbled and honored to serve as the first chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee,” Long said. “There is no doubt our task will be challenging. However, I am confident in the committee members’ ability to determine the four best teams in college football. I look forward to getting to work.”

Long’s 35 years in college football began when he was a four-year football letterman at Ohio Wesleyan, where he also earned three letters in baseball. Before coming to Arkansas in 2007, Long had been director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky and Pittsburgh and has previously held coaching and administrative positions at Miami (Ohio), North Carolina State, Duke, Michigan, Rice, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Long has experience as an athletics director or senior administrator in many of the nation’s most prominent Football Bowl Subdivision conferences including the Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences.

“Jeff has vast experience in college football,” Hancock said. “People in intercollegiate athletics hold him in high regard. He is known for his insight, intelligence, wisdom, wit, judgment and calm demeanor. He’ll make a great chairman.”

Long earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ohio Wesleyan in 1982, and a master’s degree in education from Miami (Ohio) in 1983. “Jeff Long’s selection as the first chairman of the College Playoff Selection Committee is a clear indication of his leadership role in intercollegiate athletics,” Chancellor G. David Gearhart said. “Jeff is nationally respected for his integrity and his work on behalf of student-athletes at the University of Arkansas and within the Southeastern Conference. I am appreciative of his tremendous leadership of our program and am confident he represent our institution and all of intercollegiate athletics with great distinction in this very important position.”

Long will participate in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon in Irving, Texas, to announce the remaining members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. The College Football Playoff will begin with the 2014-15 season. The 2015 semifinals will be played Jan. 1, 2015, at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The first national championship game will be played Jan. 12, 2015 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“While serving on this important committee will require certain personal and professional commitments, I will not let my chairmanship interfere with my responsibilities at the University of Arkansas,” Long said. “As the leader of our athletics program, nothing is more important than my work on behalf of our great institution and more than 460 Razorback student-athletes. I sincerely appreciate the support of Chancellor Gearhart and my team within Razorback Athletics for allowing me this opportunity.”