Quote:WKU President Gary Ransdell emphasized C-USA's use of the search firm Korn Ferry for a national process as important, in that it signifies MacLeod - who Ransdell called a "pro" - was not simply handed the job after her appointment as interim commissioner.

"If Judy was going to be selected, we wanted her to win that, and she did," Ransdell said. "She performed brilliantly throughout the process and earned this appointment. It wasn't anything that was just given to her."

MacLeod joined C-USA in 2005 after 15 years at the University of Tulsa, including the last 10 as athletic director. She transitioned the program from the Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA.

Among her first major undertakings as commissioner will be finalizing the negotiations for the league's next TV deal, which is something she said "will hopefully wrap up here in the next couple of months."

Conference USA’s current deal with the Fox Sports Media Group is set to expire June 30. One of the greatest challenges will be securing rights fees comparable to the previous agreement, with many major outlets on a downswing.

"The TV landscape is a little challenging right now," Stewart said. "ESPN just laid off 350 people, and the marketplace in some respects is kind of resetting itself right now. In some ways it's a good time to be a free agent, but in some ways it's not. But she's aware of all that, and that's been an ongoing process."

Ransdell said the league's presidents spent an hour talking about the TV process Monday morning.

He said the group discussed "new innovations" and the impact internet viewing will have on the process in the next few years.

Ransdell said he expects C-USA to take a "shorter-term perspective than a longer-term perspective with full anticipation that the swings in the marketplace will continue.

"We don't want to lock ourself into any long-term dynamic that we might regret in a few years," he said.

Ransdell said negotiations begin with current partners Fox and CBS, "but we're looking at a couple pages of other possibilities that could be in addition to our primary partner contract."

MacLeod will also spearhead efforts to raise the overall basketball profile of the conference, which Ransdell called "the most pressing upside dynamic that needs to be pursued."

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