March Madness officially has a new leader behind the scenes.
The NCAA announced Wednesday that Mike Hill has been named its vice president of men’s basketball. Hill replaces JoAn Scott, who retired after working for the NCAA since 2013.
Hill’s job will extend well beyond overseeing the presentation of the NCAA Tournament. He will have a significant role in the selection, seeding and bracketing process that produces debate across the sport every March.
He will also oversee the Division I, Division II and Division III men’s basketball championships, along with the NIT.
That makes Hill one of the most influential administrators in college basketball at a time when the sport continues to undergo dramatic change.
Hill Will Have a Hand in March’s Biggest Decisions
According to the NCAA’s official announcement, Hill will serve as a primary liaison to the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. His responsibilities will include the business and management of the tournament, as well as the selection, seeding and bracketing process.
Hill will also work with the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, which deals with playing rules, practice seasons and policies intended to preserve fair competition.
Those responsibilities are especially important now.
Eligibility lawsuits, transfer movement, NIL compensation and conference realignment have changed how rosters are built and how programs operate. The NCAA Tournament remains the sport’s centerpiece, but the environment surrounding it looks different every year.
Hill will be expected to help the tournament evolve without losing what makes it compelling.
His Résumé Fits the Moment
Hill served as Charlotte’s athletic director from 2018 through 2025. During his tenure, the department’s budget grew from $28 million to $50 million, and Charlotte moved into the American Conference.
He also helped secure a $25 million gift, the largest in the athletic program’s history, while the school’s athletics foundation broke annual giving records for six straight years.
Hill previously spent 25 years at Florida, where he worked closely with the men’s basketball program. His time in Gainesville included Florida’s national championships in 2006 and 2007, along with three other Final Four appearances.
That experience gives Hill an understanding of the tournament from several perspectives. He has worked with championship programs, managed athletic departments, raised money, handled marketing and participated in basketball governance.
Fans may never see Hill cut down a net or answer questions at a postgame press conference. His influence, however, could be felt throughout the sport.
Every controversial bubble decision, surprising seed and bracket reveal will now arrive with Hill occupying one of the most important seats in the room.
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