Big 12 Pays Respects to Former Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas

Chuck Neinas, who served as interim commissioner of the Big 12 Conference from 2011-12, passed away Tuesday at the age of 93.

Neinas, who had an illustrious career as an administrator in college athletics, oversaw the addition of both TCU and West Virginia as Conference members during his tenure as interim commissioner. In recognition of his service to the Conference, the Big 12’s football coach of the year award has been named in his honor since the 2012 season.

Sending thoughts & prayers to the family & friends of former Interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas.

May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/7t6IlbWRgF

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 16, 2025

The 1957 graduate of the University of Wisconsin also served as commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1971-80, one of the predecessors of the Big 12 Conference, and was executive director of the College Football Association from 1980-1997. He additionally spent time as an assistant executive director of the NCAA and chairman of the board and acting chief executive officer of Ascent Entertainment Group, the former owners of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. His company, Neinas Sports Services, helped guide numerous institutions through hiring processes for football coaches, basketball coaches and athletics directors.

He received numerous awards for his career, including being selected to the Bowl Season Hall of Fame in 2024, receiving the National Football Foundation’s Outstanding Contribution to College Football Award in 1999, NACDA’s James J. Corbett Memorial Award in 1999 and the AFCA’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 1996.

This story originated as a press release from the Big 12.