SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has agreed to a contract extension through 2028, the league office announced Thursday.

Sankey, who turns 59 next month, has been on the job since 2015. His extension was approved by the presidents and chancellors of the 14 SEC schools.

“I am grateful for the continued opportunity to serve and support the universities and student-athletes of the Southeastern Conference and I appreciate the confidence placed in me by the SEC’s presidents and chancellors,” Sankey said. “I look forward to working with the leaders of our member universities as we meet the challenges ahead for college athletics, seek to sustain the success of our Conference and fulfill our mission to provide our young people with the opportunity to grow academically and challenge themselves through elite competition.”

Sankey first joined the SEC office as Associate Commissioner for Governance in 2002 and later became Executive Associate Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer in 2012 before being tapped to replace the late Mike Slive as the league’s eighth commissioner. A native of Auburn, N.Y., he was previously commissioner of the Southland Conference from 1996-2002.

Widely regarded as among the most-powerful figures in college sports, Sankey has overseen the SEC’s expansion from 14 teams to 16 with Oklahoma and Texas set to join the league in 2024. He also spearheaded the league’s movement of its football television contract from a combination of CBS and ESPN to exclusively ESPN/ABC, a deal that is expected to pay the SEC upwards of $3 billion beginning next year.

“During a time of great change in college athletics, Greg Sankey has been a positive force for advancing the SEC and a thought-leader across the national landscape,” said Alabama president Stuart Bell, who also serves as president of the SEC. “The presidents, chancellors and athletic directors of our institutions hold him in great regard — respect which he has earned through his years of excellent service. I appreciate his proactive and collaborative approach to leadership and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

SEC schools have won 48 national championships since Sankey became commissioner, including titles in 2022-23 by Georgia in football, LSU in women’s basketball and baseball, Florida in men’s golf and men’s outdoor track & field, Arkansas in men’s indoor track & field and women’s indoor track & field and Vanderbilt in women’s bowling.