Chris Graham is the sixth Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in the 105-year history of the conference. He began his duties on December 2, 2013.
As Commissioner, his role is to serve as Chief Administrative Officer of the conference and RMAC Office. This entails maintaining emphasis of the conference’s mission, goals and strategic plan, providing educational and public leadership, overseeing all league administration, finances, legislation and communication and ensuring proper conduct of championships, compliance and equity. He is the RMAC’s primary representative to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and associated organizations.
Currently, Graham serves on the Division II Management Council and is also currently a member of the Division II Championships Committee, Planning and Finance Committee, Injury Surveillance Task Force, NCAA Convention Planning Team and D2 Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA). He also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and the Association of Chief Executive Officers of Sport. He has previously served on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee and Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC).
Since his arrival, Graham has made many advancements both internally and externally on behalf of the league and its student-athletes. The RMAC has added three new members and more than a half dozen associate members in his first four years while also adding two new sports: men’s and women’s Lacrosse. At the 2017 NCAA Division II Convention the RMAC had it’s first piece of sponsored legislation approved in nearly two decades. Corporate sponsorships and partners have doubled while the RMAC office has also been successful in attracting additional funds through NCAA grants such as the Membership Fund and the Division II Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship. Graham spearheaded the creation of the RMAC Network by establishing league ownership of all league video, marks and logos while setting all-time highs for league games televised in a single-season.
Through his leadership the RMAC has partnered or entered joint working relationships with several leading sports organizations including USA Wrestling, USA Triathlon, USA Volleyball, USA Swimming, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and the National Association of Sports Officials. His work in the area of officiating has made him a recognizable leader regionally and nationally, particularly with his focus on recruitment and retention of new officials to reverse the national shortage.
The focus on student-athlete well-being has been a primary area of work during Graham’s tenure. Additionally, safety measures have been implemented including inclement weather and temperature policies along with on-going conversations and education on student-athlete mental health. Graham has supported enhancements in the student-athlete championship experience which have included elevated branding, awards, media coverage and overall organization.
Before joining the RMAC, Graham was Executive Director of the Midwest Conference (MWC), a NCAA Division III conference located in Ripon, Wis. While with the MWC, he worked to advance legislative standards, policy making, technology, communications, officiating, marketing, student-athlete awards and recognition, and a focus on diversity and student-athlete well-being. Under his guidance, the MWC became the first league in Division III to establish a conference-wide webcasting agreement providing live video of league contests to over 100,000 parents, alumni and fans to date. Through his leadership and experience, Graham helped develop elevated membership standards and more stringent student-athlete safety measures.
Prior to serving as Executive Director of the MWC, Graham spent four years as the league's Assistant Commissioner and Sports Information Director.
Graham also enjoyed a standout career as a student-athlete in the MWC, earning all-conference accolades in basketball and baseball during his time at Ripon College. As a co-captain on the basketball team and outfielder on the baseball team, he was a part of three MWC championship teams, winning the league title in baseball in 1990 and basketball championships during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons.
In 1995, two years after graduating from Ripon with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management, Graham became the Sports Information Director and Assistant Baseball Coach at his alma mater before joining the MWC office in 2000.
Graham holds a Master's of Science degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is joined by his wife Penny and three daughters Alaina, Sydney and Nora.