Kevin Weiberg has been named CEO of the joint initiative founded by the NCAA and NBA to enhance youth basketball in the United States. The initiative was announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern and NCAA President Myles Brand earlier this year.

Weiberg, who currently serves as vice president of university planning and development with the Big Ten Network, will begin his new position in January. Weiberg served as commissioner of the Big 12 Conference for nine years before joining the Big Ten Network in 2007. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of USA Basketball and was a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee from 2001-03. Additionally, he was part of the NCAA College Basketball Partnership and Women's Basketball Discussion Group during his Big 12 tenure. Prior to the Big 12, Weiberg was associate commissioner and later deputy commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and want to thank Commissioner Stern and President Brand for the opportunity to lead this important new initiative,” said Weiberg. “We have a simple goal in mind; to improve the environment in youth basketball for boys and girls, parents and guardians, coaches and officials. There are many good people already actively involved in pre-collegiate basketball. We want to build on and support these efforts for the long-term good of the game.”

“We’re excited to have Kevin lead this important initiative and look forward to him bringing his unique experience and skills to bear on the challenge of enhancing youth basketball in the United States,” said Brand.

“Kevin’s wealth of leadership and management experience in collegiate athletics, together with his knowledge of the game, make him an ideal candidate to lead our initiative to enhance the development of youth basketball,” said Stern.

The initiative is designed to reach and benefit everyone who participates in youth basketball programs, including the more than 23 million American boys and girls who play basketball, their parents and those who teach, officiate and administer youth basketball programs at every level. The initiative will create a platform for teaching youth the value of education and the important lessons of fair play.

The initiative was developed with -- and will continue to benefit from -- input from a broad cross-section of parties that have an interest in youth basketball, including USA Basketball, the National Federation of State High Schools, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), coaches’ associations at every level, and the leading shoe companies.

Initial programming for the Indianapolis-based initiative will begin during the 2009-10 basketball season.