A trailblazer in intercollegiate athletics for more than three decades, Judy MacLeod was appointed the third commissioner of Conference USA on Oct. 26, 2015, making her the first female commissioner of a Football Bowl Subdivision athletics conference.
MacLeod’s time as Commissioner has been marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation and the overall advancement of CUSA. The conference has traversed the ever-changing landscape of college sports, addressing challenges while capitalizing on opportunities for growth.
MacLeod joined CUSA in September 2005, and served as the Executive Associate Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer beginning in April 2006. She took over the role as Interim Commissioner on Sept. 15, 2015, when Britton Banowsky officially stepped down from the position.
During MacLeod’s tenure, the league has achieved outstanding successes across all sports. The conference witnessed an unprecedented level of achievement in the year 2023, which was capped off by No. 23 Liberty earning CUSA’s first invitation to a New Year’s Six Bowl Game as the Flames squared off with No. 8 Oregon in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
The milestone campaign enjoyed under MacLeod commenced with a momentous 18-3 men’s basketball postseason mark that featured Florida Atlantic completing a run to the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The conference also laid claim to the NIT (North Texas) and CBI (Charlotte) titles in 2023, and her span as commissioner saw Marshall claim CUSA’s first men’s soccer national title in May 2021.
MacLeod has been a driving force behind initiatives to ensure the long-term sustainability of CUSA, including securing a new five-year media rights agreement with ESPN and CBS that will run through 2027-28. In addition to emphasizing accessibility and providing better exposure for member institutions, the partnership substantially increased the per-school payout and featured an array of standalone midweek broadcasts on linear television. In another display of stability, CUSA became the first Group of Five to sign a grant of rights.
MacLeod helped write the next chapter of CUSA’s illustrious story as she navigated the league through the latest wave of realignment with the addition of Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State and Sam Houston on July 1, 2023, as well as Kennesaw State in 2024 and Delaware in 2025. The remaining additions will bring the league’s membership to 11 schools, along with Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Western Kentucky.
In addition to her responsibilities within CUSA, MacLeod has been actively involved in national discussions and initiatives related to college athletics with an array of NCAA committee experience that includes membership on the following committees:
- NCAA Division I Council
- NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee (Chair)
- NCAA Division I Nominating Committee (Chair)
- NCAA Administration Cabinet
- NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee
- NCAA Well-Being Working Group
- NCAA Division I Management Council
- NCAA Football Academic Working Group
- NCAA Baseball Academic Enhancement Working Group
- NCAA Championships and Competition Cabinet
- NCAA Football Certification Committee
- NCAA Business/Finance Cabinet
- NCAA Basketball Marketing Committee
- NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee
- NCAA Name, Image and Likeness Legislations Solutions Working Group
MacLeod’s accolades include being named the Conference Nike Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports in September 2020 and receiving the Women of Inspiration Award from the Women in Sports and Events’ DFW chapter in November 2023.
MacLeod came to Conference USA from The University of Tulsa, where she spent 15 years - the last 10 as the Director of Athletics. She is credited with building a complete program during her tenure at TU, highlighted by high academic achievement of student-athletes, tremendous growth in on-campus athletics facilities, competitive success, conference membership transition, and marketing and fundraising growth, as well as improved equity, integrity and diversity throughout the department.
Tulsa's facilities expansion during this time include the Donald W. Reynolds Center, which houses men's and women's basketball, volleyball, strength and conditioning, and athletic training; the Michael D. Case Tennis Center; the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex, which includes a softball complex, the Hurricane Soccer and Track stadium, a soccer practice field and locker room facilities; and inside Mabee Gymnasium, the Jack Zink Indoor Rowing Center, a permanent practice center for volleyball and an indoor facility for golf. In addition, refurbishment of Skelly Stadium was well under way with a number of improvements already completed and the construction of the Case Athletic Complex in the north end zone.
Tulsa transitioned into the Western Athletic Conference and then established membership in Conference USA under MacLeod's watch. In addition, women's basketball, softball and women's rowing were added during this growth period.
MacLeod was recognized in June 2004 as the Central Region Athletics Director of the Year as selected by the National Association of Collegiate Athletics Directors (NACDA).
Prior to her appointment as the Director of Athletics, she held the positions of associate athletics director, assistant athletics director, director of ticket sales, compliance officer and graduate assistant. Before working at Tulsa, MacLeod served as a sport manager for the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle and served as an assistant women's basketball coach at Seattle University for four seasons.
MacLeod earned her bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Puget Sound, where she was a women's basketball student-athlete, and her Master's degree in athletic administration from Tulsa.