YORK, Pa. - The Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Board of Directors announced this week Jeff Ligney as its new commissioner following the departure of Tom Byrnes, who stepped down after nine years in January. Ligney will begin his term as commissioner on July 1.

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, chair of the CAC board of directors and president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, made the announcement on behalf of the Board. “Filling Tom’s role may be a daunting task, but I have every confidence Jeff Ligney will utilize his more than 20 years of extensive intercollegiate experience. He shows a confidence and a willingness to work with CAC membership, has the skills to implement effective strategies, and will surely grow the CAC in new and exciting directions.”

Rahsaan Carlton, director of athletics at Penn State Harrisburg and co-chair of the search committee said, “Ligney’s extensive experience in a conference office setting has well prepared him for this opportunity.  The one thing that became very evident as we moved further along in the hiring process is that he is very highly regarded and respected in the realm of intercollegiate athletics. I'm very confident that Jeff will do great things here at the CAC.”

Ligney most recently served as interim commissioner for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in Bay City Michigan. Prior to that role, he served at GLIAC in various capacities including director of media relations, associate commissioner for external relations and associate commissioner for internal relations.

Formed in 1989, the CAC is a 10-member coalition of four-year, co-educational institutions that promote intercollegiate athletic competition among schools located in close geographic proximity that have similar educational and athletic philosophies. The CAC strives to develop a harmony of good feeling and a spirit of competitive sportsmanship, fellowship, and uniformity of practice among member institutions. Conference members are required to operate their intercollegiate athletic programs under the highest ethical standards and to maintain a program consistent with the overall educational philosophy of the member institutions.