CLEVELAND – Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher has announced the addition of Jim Kaufman as Assistant Commissioner for Institutional Services. Kaufman will join the Conference staff on Wednesday, October 14.
Kaufman joins the MAC after more than four years at Kent State University, where he currently serves as Assistant Athletic Director for Eligibility.
In his current role, Kaufman oversees all aspects of student-athlete amateurism and eligibility, including initial, transfer and continuing eligibility certification. He also serves as a primary liaison between athletics and key campus offices, including Admissions, the Registrar and Transfer Center, while providing NCAA and MAC rules education, guidance, and interpretations.
In his new role with the MAC, Kaufman will support the Conference’s institutional services efforts and work closely with member institutions on NCAA and Conference governance, compliance, eligibility, and related matters.
Prior to joining Kent State in 2022, Kaufman held multiple positions at Charleston Southern University, including Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance. He oversaw compliance education and monitoring for 16 NCAA Division I programs, managed an athletics scholarship budget of more than $5 million, and led the department’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), and sport sponsorship reporting efforts.
Kaufman began his career in college athletics at Thiel College, where he served as Assistant Director of Compliance & Sports Information and an adjunct professor in physical education. He later served as a Compliance Coordinator at Urbana University, gaining experience in NCAA rules education, recruiting, and academic eligibility. In 2018, Kaufman was selected to participate in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar.
In addition to his collegiate athletics experience, Kaufman spent four seasons as an In-Season Marketing Representative with the Pittsburgh Steelers, assisting with fan engagement and promotional efforts on game days. He also previously worked as a Lead Buyer and Contract Professional with Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc.
A former track and field student-athlete and two-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, Kaufman earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2015 and a master’s degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2018.
Kaufman is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
