Not long after graduating from and working as an athletic administrator at the University of Oregon, Tom Jernstedt was hired by the NCAA as director of special events. He spent 38 years serving in various positions including chief operating officer, senior vice president and executive vice president, Jernstedt has been a steady and guiding force, especially as liaison to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. He has helped nurture the championship tournament through several expansion processes, not only in terms of the number of teams involved, but also in the size and scope of the venues, the revenues from marketing and broadcast rights, and the overall image as one of the world's greatest sporting events.