BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference Board of Directors has selected Tommy Sadler as the Interim Commissioner, effective May 1. Sadler will take over with nearly three decades of leadership experience in collegiate athletics.
No stranger to the Gulf South, Sadler previously served as Director of Athletics at Union University (Tenn.) from 2008 until his retirement in 2023. During his tenure, he helped Union join the GSC and led the transition from NAIA to NCAA, achieving full NCAA Division II membership status prior to the 2014-15 academic year.
“I’m grateful to Tommy for stepping forward to serve as interim commissioner as we begin our national search for new leadership,” said AUM Chancellor Dr. Carl A. Stockton, chair of the GSC Board of Directors. “His experience, his understanding of the Gulf South Conference and his service at the NCAA Division II level make him an exceptional choice to guide us through this transition. I also want to thank the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for their support. We look forward to partnering with Tommy in the work ahead.”
“I want to thank Dr. Stockton and the conference presidents and chancellors for allowing me the honor and opportunity to serve as the interim commissioner of the Gulf South Conference,” said Sadler. “Matt Wilson has done a tremendous job leading the conference, and I’m grateful for the solid foundation he’s left in place. I look forward to working alongside his excellent staff to help guide the conference through this transition. The GSC is made up of a terrific group of athletic directors and institutional leaders, and I’m excited to work with them as we continue moving the conference forward and until it selects its next great leader.”
The entirety of Sadler’s 37-year career was at Union, where he held various roles during that time. Prior to his 15-year run as director of athletics, he began his career in athletic communications before embarking on a 10-year stint overseeing fundraising and corporate partnerships. He then transitioned to the associate director of athletics role in 1996. Sadler was instrumental in expanding Union’s sports sponsorship as it added softball, men’s soccer, volleyball, women’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, and women’s golf. He also assisted in the fundraising and planning for the Fesmire Baseball and Softball Fields, Fesmire Field House, Smith Memorial Soccer Complex, and four renovations to Fred Delay Gymnasium.
In addition to his work at Union, Sadler made significant contributions at both the conference and national levels. Within the GSC, he served as the conference’s baseball administrator liaison for eight years. Before that, he was elected and served 11 years as Conference President for the TranSouth Athletic Conference when Union was a NAIA member. Nationally, Sadler was a member of the NCAA Division II Baseball South Region Advisory Committee (RAC) for six years, including four years as chair, before serving four more years on the NCAA DII National Baseball Championship Committee, highlighted by one year as chair.
Sadler will replace Matt Wilson, who was named Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner on March 13. The GSC Board of Directors also announced it will work with Collegiate Consulting to assist in its search for a permanent commissioner.