Bernard Muir was named Stanford’s Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics on July 27, 2012. He was appointed to his position by Provost John Etchemendy.
In three seasons under Muir’s guidance, Stanford has extended two of the most unfathomable streaks in college athletics. The Cardinal captured its 21st consecutive Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, presented to the most successful intercollegiate athletic department in the nation. Stanford has also won at least one NCAA championship in each of the last 39 seasons, the longest such streak in the nation.
The 2014-15 campaign was no different, with Stanford collecting NCAA crowns in women’s water polo and women’s golf while also taking home the IRA National championship in women’s lightweight rowing. The Cardinal’s two NCAA titles were its most since also claiming two championships in 2011-12. Of Stanford’s 127 championships overall, 107 are NCAA titles. Also in 2014-15, Stanford claimed its third Women’s Capital One Cup in five seasons.
With Muir at the helm, Stanford was equally successful in the classroom, with 19 varsity teams receiving Division I Academic Progress Rate Public Recognition Awards from the NCAA, representing the highest total for Cardinal programs since the NCAA began tracking the data in 2004-05. Meanwhile, 27 teams earned a perfect score of 1,000 for the 2013-14 campaign while 15 programs checked in with scores of 1,000 for the multi-year rate, measuring data collected over a span of four academic years.
In addition to its 36 varsity sports, the Stanford Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation supports campus-wide recreation, fitness and wellness programs.
In 2014, Muir accepted an invitation to join the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee after originally being named to the committee in 2012. The committee oversees all aspects of NCAA collegiate men’s basketball at the Division I level and serves as the selection committee for the NCAA Tournament.
Muir brought nearly 25 years of athletic administrative experience to The Farm from stops at Delaware, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Butler, Auburn and the NCAA. Muir directed Delaware’s athletic program from 2009-12 and also served as director of athletics at Georgetown from 2005-09.
Before joining the athletics administration at Georgetown, Muir served as deputy director of athletics for administration and facilities at Notre Dame from 2004-05. He also served at Notre Dame as senior associate athletic director for student welfare and development from 2003-04 and as associate athletic director for student welfare and development from 2000-03.
Muir worked for the NCAA from 1998-2000 as director of operations for the Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship and from 1992-98 as assistant director of the Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship.
Muir began his career in athletics administration as an athletic administrative assistant at Butler in 1990, and subsequently held positions with Auburn and Streetball Partners International of Dallas.
In 2007, Muir was named to Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40.”
Muir earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational and behavioral management from Brown in 1990 and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio in 1992.
As an undergraduate at Brown, Muir was a four-year letterwinner in basketball.
Muir and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Libby and Millie.