Dan Beebe was named the third commissioner of the Big 12 Conference on September 5, 2007, after serving as senior associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the league since February 2003.

In his first year, Beebe was able to enjoy the Big 12's first national championship in men's basketball, two teams in the Bowl Championship Series and numerous individual NCAA titles. Off the field, he guided the conference schools to a continuation of their revenue sharing model, with a record $113.5-million going back to the membership. In the area of special projects, he oversaw a continued and expanded Big 12 relationship with Special Olympics in each of the league's seven states.

While in his previous role at the Big 12, Beebe handled issues related to governance, national policy and legal affairs, in addition to coordinating the day-to-day activities of the conference office. He also served as the conference liaison to the Big 12 Board of Directors. Beebe has been involved in site selection for future league championships, extending television contracts and enhancing football bowl opportunities. In addition, he has been active in establishing the conference's sportsmanship policies and procedures.

Prior to joining the Big 12, Beebe was commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference from 1989-2003. Upon his appointment, he became the youngest leader of a Division I football-playing conference.

During his time, he made the OVC more attractive in areas of television appearances as exposure nearly tripled. He also enhanced championships and revenue generation, ensured sportsmanship and fair play, promoted gender equity, and gained national recognition for the league. He was a strong proponent of providing opportunities for female student-athletes, as the league added three women's championships during his time.

Under his direction, the OVC added five new members. He also placed an emphasis on ethics and sportsmanship within the league, producing a nationally recognized sportsmanship statement and participating in regional and national seminars on the topic.

Over the course of his career, Beebe has built a strong reputation nationally in college athletics and has been selected to some of the NCAA's most significant committees. He was a member of the prestigious NCAA Management Council, serving as chair of the Council's I-AA Governance Committee. He also chaired the Council's Committee on Fines and Forfeitures and was part of its Subcommittee for Student-Athlete Issues. Beebe was picked to fill the required commissioner's position on the initial NCAA Athletics Certification Committee that formalized and implemented the program adopted by the NCAA membership. He also previously served on the NCAA Nominating, Professional Sports Liaison, Football Issues, I-AA Football and Federal Arbitration Act committees.

Prior to his conference work, Beebe was a Director of Enforcement at the NCAA. He started at the NCAA in 1982 as an enforcement representative and was involved with numerous high-profile cases, including those at Houston, Mississippi and SMU. That tenure was interrupted by a one-year stint as an Assistant Director of Athletics at Wichita State University in 1986 before he returned to the NCAA office where he earned his Director of Enforcement promotion in 1988.

The 51-year old native of Walla Walla, Washington received a degree from Walla Walla Community College in 1977. From there he moved on to California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly-Pomona) where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in social sciences in June 1979. Beebe received his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1982 and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Besides his life's work, Beebe's ability to relate to student-athletes and others directly involved in college sports results from his own experience as a recruited football player. As an offensive lineman, Beebe was a four-year started and served as captain of the varsity football teams at Walla Walla Community College and Cal Poly-Pomona. He continued his participation in athletics well after his college days, playing rugby, basketball, tennis, golf and other sports.

He was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1989 in recognition of his outstanding professional achievement, superior leadership ability and exceptional service to the community. In 1995, he was named an Institute for International Sport Ethics Fellow. Beebe has also served on various community boards, including the YMCA and Nashville Sports Council.

Born on February 27, 1957, Beebe is married to the former Molly Scanlon and has four children: daughters Jessie and Elaine and sons Matthew and Patrick.