Jacksonville State University Athletics

Dr. William. A. Meehan served Jacksonville State University for more than 40 years including 16 years as President before retiring on June 30, 2015. He completed both bachelor's and master's degrees in biology at Jacksonville State and in January 1977 became an instructor in the Department of Biology. Meehan served in numerous administrative and teaching positions at the University and later completed a Doctorate of Education and began his role of President on July 1, 1999. In August 2009 he began a five-year term on the prestigious NCAA Board of Directors, the primary decision-making body of Division I, which drives policy and the strategic plan for the NCAA. In 2011 he began a two-year term on the NCAA Executive Committee and was one of just four non-FBS Presidents selected for the prestigious honor. As part of that committee he played a part in the final approval and oversight of the NCAA's budget as well as adopting and implementing policies to resolve core issues and other NCAA matters. He was later selected by his Presidential peers to serve as chairman of the NCAA President's Advisory Group for two years (2012 and 2013) and during the 2014-15 academic year was a member of the NCAA's Committee of Academic Performance. During the final Board of Trustees meeting of his presidency the Stadium Towers residence hall was renamed "William A. Meehan Hall" and the board also established a scholarship in his name. He was inducted into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2016.