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Provo • Having played and coached football at the college and professional levels, BYU's Tom Holmoe has as much expertise about that sport as any athletic director in the country.
Now Holmoe will attempt to become an expert on college basketball.
The Cougars' athletic director has been appointed to the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee, where he will replace outgoing West Coast Conference commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. Holmoe will serve out the remaining two years of Zaninovich's appointment as the WCC commissioner becomes deputy commissioner of the Pac-12 next month.
"I am honored to be selected to represent the WCC and to serve on the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee," Holmoe said in statement. "I appreciate those who have served before me and will do all I can to keep the tournament the wonderful event that it has become."
As Zaninovich did since earning the appointment in 2011, Holmoe will leave the room when BYU or any other WCC team is discussed for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's vice president for men's basketball, said Holmoe was the right choice to replace Zaninovich.
"Tom has a tremendous amount of respect from his colleagues in collegiate athletics and is an ideal choice to replace Jamie," Gavitt said. "We look forward to his contributions to the group."
Holmoe became BYU's athletic director in 2005 and has helped BYU win 81 conference championships.
The men's basketball team has posted 25-win seasons in six of the last eight years and has received NCAA Academic Progress Rate recognition seven times during his tenure.
Twitter: @drewjay