The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has appointed Scott Bearby as its permanent Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, a role he had been serving in an interim capacity since May 2021. Bearby, who has been with the NCAA for over two decades, now officially oversees the organization’s legal operations. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/as-march-madness-begins-ncaa-mints-new-legal-affairs-chief?utm_source=openai))
Bearby stepped into the interim role following the departure of Donald Remy, the former Chief Legal and Operating Officer, who joined the Biden administration as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/ncaa-reworks-legal-shop-amid-high-court-ruling-biden-nomination?utm_source=openai))
In related developments, the NCAA’s legal department has seen notable departures. Zandria Conyers, who served as Deputy General Counsel at the NCAA for a decade, was appointed General Counsel for the Portland Trail Blazers in August 2023. ([law.com](https://www.law.com/corpcounsel/2023/08/02/ex-ncaa-lpga-legal-leader-becomes-gc-of-trail-blazers/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, Juan “Jay” Rosselló, formerly an NCAA attorney, assumed the role of Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel at the University of Maryland in August 2023. ([sportslitigationalert.com](https://sportslitigationalert.com/former-ncaa-lawyer-named-vp-for-legal-affairs-and-general-counsel-for-university-of-maryland/?utm_source=openai))
These leadership changes occur amid ongoing debates regarding the status and rights of college athletes. The NCAA continues to navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges, including issues related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and the broader implications of athlete compensation.