Pac-12 extends commissioner Larry Scott’s contract through 2016

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pac-12 Conference’s board of directors unanimously decided to extend the contract of Commissioner Larry Scott on Monday, giving him the opportunity to push forward with his plans to reshape the league through 2016.

All 12 university presidents who make up the board agreed to the extension.

Since taking over on July 1, 2009, Scott has overseen the conference’s expansion to include Utah and Colorado. He also negotiated a landmark 12-year television contract last summer with Fox and ESPN worth about $3 billion and helped created the Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Digital Network.

“My fellow board members and I are delighted to have reached a long-term agreement with the commissioner to continue his excellent work on behalf of the Pac-12,” said Oregon State President Ed Ray, also the chairman of the league’s board. “We are on the brink of a period of extraordinary accomplishment and excellence throughout the Pac-12 and Larry’s continued leadership and vision for the Conference are critical elements in realizing that potential.”

Scott has put a pair of ideas in motion that revolutionized the league.

He nearly raided the Big 12 to form a 16-team super-conference in 2010 — and again last year — until Texas decided to stay, which was enough to convince Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas A&M not to move. Scott still lured Utah from the Mountain West and Colorado from the Big 12, giving him more leverage during TV negotiations with a conference title game to market.

The record TV deal allowed the conference to quadruple its media rights fees and start its own network. Perhaps most importantly, he also pulled rival programs together to share revenue and create a more equal playing field across all league sports.

The 47-year-old Scott is a former chairman of the Women’s Tennis Association as well as a former player and executive with the men’s ATP Tour. He is the sixth commissioner of the league.