If you look behind the curtain, you find out that the chief operating officer is also the chief legal counsel. Unusual to have someone with only legal expertise be running a large organization. Means it prioritizes lawsuits and legal issues instead of simply sports, which is their mission.
Donald M. Remy
Chief Operating Officer / Chief Legal OfficerAs chief operating officer, Remy is second-in-command behind the president, assuring smooth national office and governance functions and serving as primary liaison to the Association’s highest governing body, the Board of Governors. He maintains and establishes policies that promote Association and national office culture and vision and ensures coordination of consistent and impactful communication strategies and messaging on behalf of the NCAA and its partners. Further, he designs and implements engagement strategies, plans and procedures for corporate partners and champions, as well as those involved in adjudicative systems, in a dynamic environment. Within the national office, Remy works with the president to set comprehensive goals for individual and unit performance and growth, evaluating performance by analyzing and interpreting data and metrics.
As chief legal officer, Remy oversees and guides effective legal, government relations and policy strategy. He guides key litigation and contract negotiations while building and maintaining productive relationships with local and national policymakers. He is involved in crafting and advocating appropriate data-driven policy positions on various issues including academics, amateurism, athletics competition and health and safety while ensuring his reporting departments are servicing and supporting student-athletes, the NCAA and member institutions.
https://www.ncaa.org/about/who-we-are/office-president/ncaa-leadership-team