Duke President Vincent Price to serve as vice chair of reorganized ACC Board of Directors

A multitude of huge decisions are on the way for college athletics this summer and into the fall. In order to make those decisions, the ACC has decided that it's time for a change.

In a Monday press release, the Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents announced that it has adopted a series of changes to the ACC constitution and by-laws that will go into effect July 1. One of those changes is that the 15 league presidents and chancellors will now serve as the ACC's Board of Directors, with Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud serving as the chair of the board and Duke President Vincent Price serving as vice chair.

"The 15 member institutions of the ACC shared a common vision that we needed a more nimble and modern governance system to meet the challenges currently facing collegiate athletics," Syverud said in the release. "We are committed to further delivering fulfilling experiences for our student-athletes while also carrying out our broader academic, campus and community missions. I am delighted that we could coalesce so quickly around these priorities, which should provide us an effective platform for the successful stewardship of the conference in the years ahead."

The press release stated that Syverud and Price will each serve an initial term of one year, while their successors will serve two-year terms. Current ACC Commissioner John Swofford, who announced Thursday afternoon that he will retire following the 2020-21 athletic year, will serve as the conference's chief executive officer. 

"I applaud our Presidents and Chancellors for taking this timely step to further modernize the league's governance structure, which allows the presidents to be updated and involved on a real-time basis," Swofford said in the release. "This new structure best positions our conference to address the ever-changing landscape in college athletics, and I'm confident it will serve us well in the immediate and long-term future."

In addition to the reorganization of the board of directors, a newly constituted Executive Committee will include Syverud, Price, Clemson President James Clements, N.C. State Chancellor Randy Woodson, Louisville President Neeli Bendapudi and Virginia President James Ryan.

According to a March article from The News & Observer, Price's decision to suspend Duke Athletics was instrumental in the ACC's decision to then cancel this past season's men's basketball tournament. The article stated that Price's choice to suspend all athletic competition for his school was one that "the other 14 presidents [within the ACC] and the governor all refused to make."