BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gulf South Conference Commissioner Matt Wilson announced Friday that he will step down to accept the same position with the Ohio Valley Conference. Wilson will continue with the GSC through its spring championship season.
“Serving the Gulf South Conference membership has been an amazing privilege,” Wilson said. “Everyone bought into the vision for the league and helped us achieve great things in the last 12 years. The trust by the Board, the collaboration of athletic administrators, the passion of coaches, and the talent of student athletes make this the best commissioner job in Division II. Finally, none of what we have accomplished would have been possible without a staff that shared the standard set for the GSC.”
Chairman of the GSC Board of Directors and AUM Chancellor Dr. Carl A. Stockton said, “On behalf of the GSC Board of Directors, we wish Matt well in the next step of his career. For more than a decade, Matt has been instrumental in growing the Gulf South Conference and helping it develop into one of the best Division II conferences in the nation. He will be truly missed by everyone in the conference. We are happy for him and his family. Job well done, Matt. You will missed by all of us.”
Wilson, the seventh commissioner in GSC history, has led the league since May 2014. During his tenure, he has championed the Conference’s motto — “Compete. Graduate. Impact.” — expanding championship opportunities and experiences for student-athletes, most notably growing the league sports sponsorship from 14 to 19 championship sports. Under his leadership, the GSC has also seen significant academic progress, highlighted by a 15-point increase in the NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate over the past 12 years, reaching an all-time high of 77 percent with the most recent release in December 2025. Wilson also guided the GSC to become the first non-Division I conference to partner with FloSports on a media rights agreement.
In addition, Wilson worked extensively to elevate the Conference’s officiating programs, hiring regionally and nationally recognized coordinators who strengthened standards, improved recruitment and evaluation processes, and expanded training opportunities. He also helped the league adopt new policies and procedures related to technology and implementing enhanced official review systems.
A respected voice across the NCAA landscape, Wilson’s collaborative leadership earned him prominent roles among his peers, including service as President of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) and a place on the 2024 NCAA Division II Think Tank. He also teamed with conference leaders nationwide on issues such as NCAA eligibility, championship access, and broader national governance topics.
The GSC Board of Directors will work with an outside firm to conduct a national search for its new Commissioner.
About the Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a charter member of NCAA Division II based in Birmingham, Ala. Formed in 1970, the GSC has established a tradition of excellence and leadership in the Division II landscape, celebrating over 50 national titles and more than 160 region championships. The Conference is comprised of 12 member institutions and sponsors 19 sports and hosts 18 championship events.