Meet Sherika Montgomery, The New Commissioner Of The Big South Conference

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Big South Conference has a new commissioner after nearly three decades. Bahakel Sports reporter Jack Taylor met up with Sherika Montgomery, the fourth commissioner in the conference’s existence.

TAYLOR: Ms. Montgomery talk little bit about your background and how you got into this role.

“Of course. So as some may know, I am actually a former Big South Conference, student athlete had an opportunity to complete my eligibility at Gardner Webb University. And as I oftentimes say, I stepped directly off a basketball court into the Big South Conference office, I was there for a total of seven years had a phenomenal experience from professional standpoint, went out in our membership, and went to university while I was there for two and a half years, served as Associate Athletic Director for Student Success, loved every minute, had an opportunity to get back on the conference level, relocate to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where I served the Summit League as Associate Commissioner for governance and compliance. After that, I had a stint at the national office working in the enforcement department where I was Assistant Director of Enforcement, investigation and processing for two and a half years. And then most recently, I served the Missouri Valley Conference as Deputy Commissioner prior to having an opportunity to be the next commissioner of the Big South Conference.”

TAYLOR: Your presence in this role is a bit historic, obviously, within the conference, talk a little bit about what that means for someone like yourself to be in this position.

“It was an absolute honor and blessing first and foremost. And as I noted, for a conference that’s poured so much into me, personally, professionally, as well as athletically, me now having an opportunity to come back and serve the next generation of Big South student athletes is definitely a tremendous honor, and a blessing that I take with pride every day.”

TAYLOR: For someone of your demographic, what does being in this position of authority mean to you? To be able to show to other players, other people coming up in the same way you did, what can be out there.

“Of course, so obviously, fourth Commissioner, being the first female as well as the first person of color, I think, first and foremost is a testament to the commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and just diverse perspectives from our membership. And I think, you know, while it comes with an honor and a joy, it’s something that, for me, it’s being able to be representation, not just for student athletes that may or may not look me for all of our student athletes are really being able to hone in on that big South student athlete experience, I think that’s probably what has been the most invaluable for me in this transition.”

TAYLOR: Give me one or two goals you have for this first year in your tenure.

“You know, I’ll give you the first one that’s going to come in the in three. But so I share with our staff, there’s two to three things that regardless of how we move forward that we have to take very seriously. And that’s first off cultivating culture internally, within our conference office, this then in return kind of put us in a position to provide supreme customer service to our membership when it comes to serving them. And then elevating student athlete experiences in everything that we do, whether that’s a championship, new resources, that is something of Chief priority, and that’s something I’ve shared since I’ve walked into the door. More broadly, I would probably say from a membership perspective, that is something that is a huge priority for myself, as well as our board, and making sure we’re putting ourselves in a position to not only retain our current member institutions, but to attract new member institutions. And then also the refining and redefining of our strategic plan that we feel is going to have a direct impact on being able to attract new member institutions when it comes to that standard of excellence.”

TAYLOR: With Campbell leaving the conference, has the process started, and if so where are you in the process to try to add in a new team to the conference or a few new teams.

“Conference realignment is something that all conferences across the country are currently facing. And that’s something soon as I was named, you know, oftentimes ask coaches, what keeps you up at night? What are the things that are most pertinent to you on your radar, and for me, it’s membership. And that’s something that I’ve hit the ground running, and working with our board, working with our ADF and membership to make sure I have an understanding of what I’ll call the quality versus the quantity of member institutions out there. But that’s something we are actively and vigorously working on right now. Well, you’ve been in the conference in that role.”

TAYLOR: Have you found it hard to not root for your alma mater, a little bit more than the other schools?

“Well, you know, most of my career being on the conference level, sometimes that does shade you to where you’re always internally rooting for your member institutions, but definitely not something I feel is have a bias when it comes to Gartner. We have more so just use to the conference office life of having 910 12 member institution that you’re always rooting for. How excited are you for this first year, absolutely honored and elated I feel that we are poised in position and I feel our fall sports have really put us in a position to kick off that level of success. I mean, when you think about women’s soccer, we’ve had record breaking seasons with some of our institutions. Men’s soccer volleyball has had some great wins over SEC foes and so I feel that we are really off to a great start specifically with our fall sports. And I think basketball coming up in less than a month. They’re gonna put us right there and continue to elevate that so I’m immensely excited for the continued representation of Big South Conference sports.”