Dan Beebe Expected To Depart As Big 12 Commissioner Thursday

Following reports on Wednesday that Dan Beebe could be departing as Big 12 Commissioner in the near future, the Kansas City Star is reporting that Beebe is working on his exit package and that his departure from the job could be announced on Thursday. Beebe has become unpopular with some of the presidents of Big 12 schools during the current conference realignment mess, likely leading to his making way for some new blood.

When Colorado and Nebraska departed the Big 12 last year but no one else followed, Beebe was widely praised for saving the conference. Between the creation of the Longhorn Network, Texas A&M’s departure to the SEC and rumors of a Pac-12 annexation of Big 12 teams - which is no longer happening - public opinion of Beebe seems to have shifted significantly.

Reportedly, Oklahoma is only willing to stay in the Big 12 on the condition that a new commissioner is appointed, which gives the conference a very good reason to replace Beebe. Whenever his replacement is named, that person will likely begin the process of trying to expand the conference, at the very least with a replacement for Texas A&M.