INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee. Leykam will serve a four-year term on the committee beginning on September 1, 2019.

The 10-person women's soccer committee is responsible for the organization and implementation of the NCAA Championships tournament, including selection of the participants and creation of the bracket. The committee also establishes playing rules and procedures for competition.

"I am humbled to be selected to serve on the NCAA Women's Soccer Committee as a representative of both the University of Portland and the West Coast Conference," Leykam said. "This is an exciting time for the sport of women's soccer and it will be outstanding to be a part of that growth at the collegiate level. It is also an honor to represent the storied women's soccer tradition of the University of Portland and Soccer City USA on a prestigious committee with esteemed colleagues from all over the country."

Portland soccer is one of the premier collegiate brands having combined to reach ten NCAA College Cup final four appearances between the men's and women's programs, with the women claiming national championships in 2002 and 2005. The programs have produced dozens of All-Americans and professional players, while 12 former Pilots have participated in World Cup or Olympic competitions.

Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex is one of the finest soccer-specific facilities in the nation and Portland is regularly among the national leaders in attendance.

More About Scott Leykam (Full Bio)
Leykam is entering his eighth year at the helm of Portland and oversees a department of 16 varsity sports and more than 270 student-athletes. He has overseen significant growth and achievements on The Bluff, while serving on several influential committees at the national and conference level.

Leykam is currently the Second Vice President for the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association and previously served a six-year term as Chair of the West Coast Conference Basketball Cabinet and completed a four-year term on the NCAA Championships & Sports Management Cabinet.

He recently led the department to its largest fiscal year fundraising number in history by bringing in $3.25 million dollars and has facilitated a number of capital projects that have been completed, or are currently in-process.

The department has also seen unprecedented staff growth in the areas of academic support, video services, compliance, facilities & operations, ticket sales, athletic training and athletic performance.

Academic excellence has been a constant for UP athletics with programs regularly among the elite in NCAA metrics such as Academic Progress Rates (APR) and Graduation Success Rates (GSR), while the department posted a 97 percent student-athlete graduation rate each of the last two years.

Prior to coming to The Bluff, Leykam spent 13 years in the Stanford University Athletic Department in media relations and fundraising and four years as Senior Associate Commissioner for External Relations at the West Coast Conference.