Commissioner Search Process Announced by Horizon League Board of Directors
INDIANAPOLIS (November 13, 2025) – The Horizon League Board of Directors has approved the comprehensive search process for the League’s next commissioner.
A search committee has been formed and is comprised of three university presidents/chancellors, two athletic directors, a senior woman administrator, a faculty athletics representative and a student-athlete, along with a League staff liaison. Parker Executive Search has been selected to lead the search process. Current League Chief Operating Officer Christine Neuman has been appointed Interim Commissioner as of December 1.
Why this matters: Operating from a position of strength and influence, the Horizon League’s process reinforces this by selecting a well-rounded search committee and a highly-respected firm that has completed multiple successful commissioner searches. Specifically, the search committee includes:
- Presidents/Chancellors
- Laura Bloomberg, Cleveland State (Chair)
- Ora Pescovitz, Oakland
- Latha Ramchand, IU Indianapolis
- Athletics Directors
- Ron Strollo, Youngstown State
- Robert Vowels, Detroit Mercy
- Senior Woman Administrator
- Faculty Athletics Representative
- Tom Hazelbaker, Wright State
- Student-Athlete
- Dominik Cosic, Cleveland State
- Horizon League Staff Liaison
Major Voices
Horizon League Search Committee Chair and Cleveland State President Laura Bloomberg
“Thanks to the foresight and careful planning of leaders in the League office and our member institutions, a commissioner succession plan was developed several years ago. Following a review of that plan, we launched this search by first gathering feedback from key stakeholders, exploring potential partners, determining efficiencies, and ensuring an inclusive process. We are now poised and eager to identify the next great leader of the Horizon League who will continue to make a major impact from the commissioner’s chair.”
Dig Deeper:
- On October 16, current commissioner Lach was named Executive Vice President with Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
- Lach will remain with the League until December 27 to assist in the transition.
- Neuman has played a vital role in the League’s growth and success since joining the staff in 2009. She has impacted every corner of the League’s operation, currently overseeing championships and regular season competition, sponsorship, community partners and internal office operations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Valparaiso where she competed on the softball team before completing a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Indianapolis.
- The position opening will be posted in early December.
- The Horizon League is an NCAA Division I athletics conference comprised of 11 member institutions headquartered in Indianapolis. The League and our member schools annually develop nearly 4,000 student-athletes for life. Through unique opportunities in major metropolitan cities, their athletic, academic and personal aspirations can be achieved. Because what they learn today will inspire who they become tomorrow. For more information, visit HorizonLeague.com.
- Parker Executive Search is a retained executive search firm dedicated to providing superior service to its clients in the identification and recruitment of outstanding professionals for senior executive positions. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Parker Executive Search provides innovative and proactive search solutions, and their sports practice is one of the most highly regarded in the country. To learn more about the search, please contact Daniel Parker (DanielParker@parkersearch.com) or Grant Higgison (GHiggison@parkersearch.com) with Parker Executive Search.