Bernard Muir, centre, is due to take charge of the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council ©Getty Images

Director of athletics at Stanford University Bernard Muir has been appointed as the new chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Collegiate Advisory Council (CAC).

The 54-year-old graduate of Brown University and Ohio University will replace retired USOPC Board member Kevin White, who served in the role from 2017 to 2022.

Muir, who has master's degree in sports administration, was appointed as Stanford's athetics director in 2012 having previously held the same role at Georgetown University and the University of Delaware.

Other roles currently held by Muir include serving on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball Committee.

Jamie Pollard, the athletic director at Iowa State University, was also announced as a new member on the Council which has undergone a structural change that now includes four designated athlete seats.

"The collegiate landscape is critically important to the current and future health of Olympic and Paralympic sport, and we're thrilled to welcome Bernard Muir as chair and new member Jamie Pollard to our Collegiate Advisory Council to help us advance this work," said USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland. 

"From launching the USOPC Collegiate Think Tank, to working with the NCAA to update legislation, to supporting athletes competing in both systems, the council has already accomplished a great deal since its inception – and we are focused on continuing our efforts in support of Team USA student-athletes."

The USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council aims to bridge the gap between university and national team sport in the United States ©Getty Images
The USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council aims to bridge the gap between university and national team sport in the United States ©Getty Images

The Council is now in its sixth year of administration and aims to bring collegiate administrators and athletes with both university sport an national team experience together.

Also on the 12-member panel are Sandy Barbour, Greg Byrne, Lauren Crandall, Bubba Cunningham, Jessica Heims, Chaunté Lowe, Rob Mullens, Gene Smith, Kendall Spencer, and Scott Stricklin.

"With the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 on the horizon, the CAC will continue carrying out its mission of strengthening and leading collaborative efforts to align our country's unique collegiate athletic landscape and the Olympic and Paralympic movements to support Team USA’s collegiate athletes," read a USOPC statement.

The CAC is to hold its first meeting of the year tomorrow in a remote format, with focus said to be put on "alignment modelling, messaging integration and pathway advancement."