Former WVU AD Oliver Luck Named Executive Director of ASUN-WAC Football Partnership

A lifelong Mountaineer and former leader of West Virginia University athletics is taking on a new challenge in college football.

Oliver Luck has been named the executive director of a new football partnership between the ASUN Conference and the Western Athletic Conference. Luck, who most recently aided the Mountaineers in the hiring of athletic director Wren Baker, served as CEO and commissioner of the XFL and held a position with the NCAA, will work mostly as a consultant in the combined conference’s plans to eventually become one Football Bowl Subdivision conference.

The joining of the two conferences and the addition of Luck and other high-ranking officials was announced in a press release on Thursday. “Oliver Luck is one of the most respected leaders in NCAA athletics,” said Tarleton State University President James Hurley in a statement.

The new conference football partnership between #WACfb and @ASUN_Football welcomes Oliver Luck as Executive Director and co-chairs of the Council of Presidents James Hurley from @TarletonState and David McFaddin from @eku 🏈

READ: https://t.co/QF1UtlIjvg

— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) January 5, 2023

“He brings an incredible amount of knowledge, passion, and expertise to our common and unified goal. He will work collaboratively with our commissioners, presidents and athletic directors to ensure that our football conference is among the best in the nation.”

As far which teams will be part of this combined conference, which is expected to assume a new name to be announced at a later date, includes WAC football members Stephen F. Austin, Abilene Christian, Utah Tech, Southern Utah and Tarleton State. The Atlantic Sun members will be Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas and North Alabama. The goal is for this conference to get underway as one by 2024, likely starting out at the FCS level. A 10th program in UT Rio Grande Valley is expected to join in 2025 when it officially kicks off its first ever football season

Luck spent four years as WVU’s athletic director from 2010 to 2014, has held various roles in professional and collegiate sports, highlighted by stints as XFL CEO, vice president for regulatory affairs with the NCAA, general manager of Frankfurt Galaxy and Rein Fire, CEO of NFL Europe, president of the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer and chief executive officer of the Houston Sports Authority.  He also currently holds the title of chairmen of Altius Sports Partners and founded the NIL company Country Roads Trust with the intention of assisting WVU athletes.

Prior to his successful career as a business leader, Luck starred as a quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978 to 1981. He led West Virginia to a Peach Bowl victory over Florida in his final college season. He then played five NFL seasons with the Houston Oilers. Luck is the father of former NFL All-Pro and top draft pick Andrew Luck.