TUCSON, Ariz. – Dr. Cedric Dempsey, former University of Arizona Athletic Director and Executive Director of the NCAA, passed away Saturday at the age of 92.
 
A member of the NACDA, Arizona Athletics, University of the Pacific, Pima County Sports, City of Stockton and Albion College Hall of Fame, he earned nine letters in football, basketball and baseball at Albion before graduating in 1954. He then served as Albion's basketball and cross country coach for three years before joining Arizona as an assistant basketball coach for two seasons.
 
The Equality, Illinois native enjoyed a 46-year administrative career in the world of sports, beginning with his first stint in Tucson as an Assistant Athletics Director from 1965-67. After holding AD posts at Pacific, San Diego State and Houston, he returned in 1983 and served 11 years as the Wildcats' Athletic Director before leading the NCAA from 1994-2002.
 
Under his leadership, Arizona became a fixture in NCAA postseason play in virtually every sport. The foundation of success came by Dempsey's hiring of Hall of Fame and iconic coaches like Lute Olson, Dick Tomey, Mike Candrea, Joan Bonvicini, Fred Harvey, Becky Bell, Frank Busch and Dave Rubio among others. His time in Tucson was marked by five national championships, 39 individual NCAA championships and 17 Pac-10 championships while Wildcat student-athletes earned hundreds of All-American and Academic All-American honors.

He worked tirelessly for the advancement of intercollegiate athletics, serving on countless NCAA and Pac-10 committees and advisory groups. He chaired the Pac-10 Championships Committee (1991-92) and the prestigious NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee (1988-89).

Dempsey and current University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois met during the latter's early years as Associate AD for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at Fresno State University. 
 
"Twenty-one years ago, Cedric painted a picture for me that I could one day be an athletic director," said Reed-Francois. "His guidance helped me see a calling I never knew could be possible.

"I am forever grateful for the impact he had on the trajectory of my career and on my life as a whole. He will be deeply missed by our family and by everyone in the University of Arizona community."
 
The Wildcats' C.A.T.S. (Commitment to an Athlete's Total Success) program was also named in his honor.
 
Dempsey and his wife June are survived by his two children.