Video Links:
Induction Speech
Hall of Fame Video
1-on-1 with Jim Lessig
Jim Lessig, MAC/Bowling Green (Administration)
Jim Lessig served as MAC Commissioner from 1982 to 1990 and made a significant impact in the early implementation of women’s athletics within the Conference, provided leadership in facility expansion and improvements and opened the league’s television exposure with the advent of regional television expansion.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Lessig received his bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in physical education from Bowling Green in 1957. He earned his master’s degree in school administration and speech in 1967 from Bowling Green.
Lessig served Bowling Green in several capacities in the 1960s and 70’s, including assistant basketball coach, assistant athletic director, director of alumni affairs and executive director of alumni and development before being named athletic director in 1978. In 1969, he left Bowling Green to become assistant basketball coach to Bill Fitch at the University of Minnesota.
One year later, Lessig was on the ground floor of the NBA expansion franchise Cleveland Cavaliers as assistant coach, head scout and director of special promotions. He also served as analyst for Cavalier basketball games and Cleveland Indians baseball games.
Lessig rejoined the Bowling Green staff in 1971 and continued his successful career at the university until he was named athletic director at Kansas in May of 1982. However, later in the year, Lessig received the ultimate compliment as he was summoned back to lead the MAC as Commissioner in 1982.
As commissioner, Lessig instituted promotional programs to increase the visibility and recognition of MAC teams and student-athletes, extended the MAC’s contract to play in the California Bowl and put together a television package which gave the conference at that time its greatest exposure ever on television.
Under his direction, the MAC with nine full-time members, sponsored 18 championships in football, baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, swimming, track and field and wrestling. Lessig also directed the early implementation of women’s athletics in the MAC, which began in 1980, as the MAC added women’s athletics in basketball, cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
Lessig also provided leadership for the conference in facility expansion and improvement. During his tenure, six of the nine MAC programs expanded or improved their football stadiums, including Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan, Miami, Kent State and Bowling Green.
The foresight of Lessig to value television exposure for a conference and its members was vital for the MAC to get in at the ground floor at the time of regional television expansion in the 1980s. At the time, the MAC signed a regional television deal with SportsChannel cable network to broadcast MAC football and basketball games. The SportsChannel America network began in 1984 and by the end of Lessig’s tenure at the MAC, SportsChannel America reached over 22 million homes and provided coverage for the conference through expanded coverage in SportsChannel Ohio and SportsChannel Chicago.
Lessig also conceived and coordinated the highly-successful MAC 40th Anniversary Reunion in 1986 and in 1988 his efforts produced the charter class of the MAC Hall of Fame.
Jim and his wife, Margarita, reside in Toledo, Ohio.
