INDIANAPOLIS — Northwestern Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson has been named to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, the NCAA announced on Thursday.
Jackson will serve a five-year term. He enters the committee as it oversees the NCAA Tournament’s expanded field from 68 to 76 teams in 2027. Next year’s committee will be the first to select, seed and bracket a 76-team field.
The 12-member selection committee is composed of athletic directors and administrators throughout Division I athletics. Jackson will take over the Big Ten Conference’s seat on the committee.
Committee members meet year-round to discuss the tournament and its administration, evaluate teams, assign tournament game officials and determine future sites.
Jackson, who joined Northwestern in 2024, has helped steer the Wildcats through the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. Northwestern has won four national titles (field hockey: 2024, 2025; women’s golf: 2025; lacrosse: 2026) since Jackson’s tenure began. He played a vital role in securing hosting rights for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament’s Championship Weekend.
Prior to his time at Northwestern, Jackson served as the athletic director at Villanova, with the Wildcats capturing a pair of men’s basketball national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Jackson had a brief stint on the committee in 2024 and was appointed by the Big East Conference to replace former Butler Athletics Director Barry Collier, who retired soon after the 2024 Men’s Final Four. But his tenure ended upon accepting the NU job.
The new members will be joined by Irma Garcia, the director of athletics at Manhattan; Stu Jackson, the commissioner of the West Coast Conference; Arthur Johnson, the director of athletics at Temple; Zack Lassiter, the director of athletics at Abilene Christian; Martin Newton, the director of athletics at Samford; Lee Reed, the director of athletics at Georgetown; Chad Weiberg, the director of athletics at Oklahoma State; and Tom Wistrcill, the commissioner of the Big Sky Conference. Newton will chair the committee for the 2026-27 season.
Jackson will serve a five-year term. He enters the committee as it oversees the NCAA Tournament’s expanded field from 68 to 76 teams in 2027. Next year’s committee will be the first to select, seed and bracket a 76-team field.
The 12-member selection committee is composed of athletic directors and administrators throughout Division I athletics. Jackson will take over the Big Ten Conference’s seat on the committee.
Committee members meet year-round to discuss the tournament and its administration, evaluate teams, assign tournament game officials and determine future sites.
Jackson, who joined Northwestern in 2024, has helped steer the Wildcats through the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. Northwestern has won four national titles (field hockey: 2024, 2025; women’s golf: 2025; lacrosse: 2026) since Jackson’s tenure began. He played a vital role in securing hosting rights for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament’s Championship Weekend.
Prior to his time at Northwestern, Jackson served as the athletic director at Villanova, with the Wildcats capturing a pair of men’s basketball national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Jackson had a brief stint on the committee in 2024 and was appointed by the Big East Conference to replace former Butler Athletics Director Barry Collier, who retired soon after the 2024 Men’s Final Four. But his tenure ended upon accepting the NU job.
The new members will be joined by Irma Garcia, the director of athletics at Manhattan; Stu Jackson, the commissioner of the West Coast Conference; Arthur Johnson, the director of athletics at Temple; Zack Lassiter, the director of athletics at Abilene Christian; Martin Newton, the director of athletics at Samford; Lee Reed, the director of athletics at Georgetown; Chad Weiberg, the director of athletics at Oklahoma State; and Tom Wistrcill, the commissioner of the Big Sky Conference. Newton will chair the committee for the 2026-27 season.
