Scott is leaving his post as Pac-12 commissioner. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Scott stepping down as Pac-12 commissioner

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 1/20/21

The Pac-12 will finally have some new leadership.

Commissioner Larry Scott and the Pac-12 parted ways on Wednesday. CEOs of the conference finished a meeting that led to the decision.

NEWS: Pac-12 agrees to part ways with commissioner Larry Scott. Conference CEOs just finished meeting tonight. National search for new commissioner will begin immediately.https://t.co/4VKJQbzIeB

— Michael Smith (@SmittySBJ) January 21, 2021

Scott sent an email to the Pac-12 athletic directors, telling them it was a mutual decision, even though he had a contract that ran through 2022.

Just spoke to a Pac-12 source. Can confirm the league is parting ways with Larry Scott. He was extended through 2022 back in 2017. Scott has made an estimated $40 million during his time as Pac-12 commissioner.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 21, 2021

The move is long overdue and really is coming far too late from the conference.

Scott took over as Pac-12 commissioner in 2009. Since then, the conference has become less and less relevant in college football and basketball, and is viewed as a joke among the Power 5 conferences, especially in football. The conference barely having a season in 2020 set it back even more than it already had been in terms of nationwide reputation.

The biggest error Scott made was keeping the Pac-12 Networks, which were launched in 2012, off DirecTV. A significant percentage of the conference's fans were unable to watch their teams due to this horrible TV deal.

Under Scott, the conference also expanded to include Colorado and Utah. Once highly regarded as the Conference as Champions, the Pac-12 has plummeted in stature due to Scott’s horrendous leadership.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: