Professional Experience
Richard W. (Rick) Chryst is serving in an Of Counsel relationship with Walter & Haverfield and is a member of its newly-formed Sports Law practice group. He plays an integral role in the firm's efforts to further develop its existing representation and expertise in this area, particularly in the field of intercollegiate athletics.
Rick has over twenty years of administrative experience in the field of intercollegiate sports. Most recently, he completed a 10-year term as Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference (1999-2009), a 13-member NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) athletic conference founded in 1946. There, he held conference office responsibility for the primary MAC governance bodies, and was instrumental in the elevation of MAC football and basketball, thereby cementing the conference's Division I-A status. Under his leadership, the conference built the highly-successful MAC Basketball Tournament in Cleveland and was a founding member of the nationally-televised BracketBusters college basketball event, which now features over 100 teams annually in late-February. During his tenure, the MAC also realized a dramatic growth in its number of football television and bowl game appearances, culminating with a recently-signed eight-year expanded rights agreement with ESPN.
Prior to his involvement with the MAC, Rick served as Assistant Commissioner in both the Atlantic Coast (1992-1999) and Southwest Conferences (1989-1992). With these organizations, his numerous responsibilities included marketing, television , corporate programs, legal affairs, special events, and community outreach programs. Rick also served, from 1983 to 1986, as the Assistant Sports Information Director at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Areas Of Emphasis
Business Services
In coordination with other members of the firm's Sports Law practice group, Rick will work to further develop the firm's existing representation and expertise in this growing field, particularly within intercollegiate athletics. The firm presently works with clients on matters related to NCAA rules compliance and infractions, media negotiation and drafting of contracts, major event and venue agreements, conference governance and membership issues, and tax-related counsel.
More specifically, Rick will initially concentrate in the following areas of representation:
- Media Analysis and Contract Negotiation
- Governance Counsel in Intercollegiate and High School Athletics
- Major Events: College Football Bowl Games, Post-Season Tournaments and Special Events
- Corporate Programs
- Coaching and Administrative Management Services
Podcasts
- In a June 10, 2010 interview on WKNR-850 AM radio, the ESPN affiliate in Cleveland, Rick discussed the rapidly-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, as several major conferences consider the possibility of expansion and re-alignment.
Professional & Community Associations
Past professional board involvement includes:
- NCAA Football - Board Member (1999-2009)
- Greater Cleveland Sports Commission - Board Member (2002-09)
- President, Collegiate Commissioners Association (2005-07)
- Chair, Division I-A Commissioners (2003-05)
- National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame - Past member of the Honors Court (College Division)
Sports law and business lecturer at following institutions:
- University of Akron Law School
- Kent State University
- Northern Illinois University
- University of Toledo
Education
Duke University School of Law, J.D., (with honors), 1989
University of Notre Dame, A.B. (magna cum laude), 1983
Phi Beta Kappa
Licensed to Practice
- Texas
AWARD & RECOGNITIONSSports Management Institute (2006)Duke University School of Law - Administrative Editor, Law & Contemporary Problems (1988-89) University of Notre Dame - Byron Kanaley Memorial Award Winner (1983), presented to the outstanding graduating student-athlete at Notre Dame; Baseball Most Valuable Player and Captain (1983); Baseball Academic All-American (1981) |
