ARLINGTON, Texas – Abilene Christian University Vice President for Athletics Zack Lassiter has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. Lassiter will serve a five-year term, which begins immediately and will expire in August of 2029.

The 12-member committee works directly with NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt and the national office men’s basketball staff on the administration of the NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship.

“We are extremely excited for Zack to join the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee and represent the WAC,” Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Interim Commissioner Rebekah Ray said. “Zack brings years of diverse experience at the DI men's basketball level to the committee and will be a great representative for our conference.”

Lassiter will be one of five first-year members of the committee, joining Irma Garcia of Manhattan, Stu Jackson of the West Coast Conference, Lee Reed of Georgetown and Chad Weiberg of Oklahoma State. Bubba Cunningham of North Carolina will chair the committee for the 2024-25 season, while Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill will serve as vice chair. Other returning members include Greg Byrne of Alabama, Mark Coyle of Minnesota, Arthur Johnson of Temple, Martin Newton of Samford and Tom Wistrcill of the Big Sky Conference.

“It is with great humility and enthusiasm that I accept the professional opportunity of a lifetime,” Lassiter said. “I believe the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is one of the greatest events in all of sports. I’ve been involved with March Madness in many different capacities over the last two decades, but to serve in this role is incredibly exciting. I want to thank Dan Gavitt and everyone else involved in the nomination process. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and put in the work necessary to continue to make this championship special for everyone.”

Lassiter joined the ACU athletic department in November of 2021, immediately establishing himself as a strong voice for the WAC. Lassiter has been heavily engaged as the conference AD liaison to the men’s basketball coaches committee during his tenure at ACU.

"Zack's role as a member of the selection committee presents a tremendous opportunity for ACU to take a leadership role in one of the most significant events in college sports," ACU President Dr. Phil Schubert said. "Zack is an innovative, passionate and principled leader, and he will represent ACU and the WAC well in this capacity."

Prior to ACU, Lassiter oversaw the external units at Oregon State University as deputy athletics director, while serving as the sport supervisor for men’s basketball. Lassiter served on the NCAA DI Women’s Soccer Selection Committee under OSU athletic directors Chris Hill and Scott Barnes during their time on the men’s basketball committee.

Before his time at OSU, Lassiter worked on the executive team at the University of Central Florida for three years after arriving from the University of Utah, where he spent more than six years in athletics administration and served an integral role during the 2010 West Regional in Salt Lake City. Lassiter has previously served on three different local organizing committees (Salt Lake City, Portland, and Orlando) that successfully received bids to host NCAA tournament games and was the tournament director twice in Salt Lake City, once as a first/second round site and as the aforementioned regional final site in 2010.