(Sports Network) - NCAA president Myles Brand lost his fight with pancreatic cancer Wednesday, passing away at his Indianapolis home at the age of 67.

Brand had served as NCAA president since January, 2003. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December, 2008.

"Myles Brand was a dear friend and a great academic leader. He was a tireless advocate for the student-athlete," said Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia and chair of the NCAA Executive Committee. "Indeed, he worked to ensure that the student was first in the student-athlete model. He will be greatly missed."

Prior to his tenure as the Association's chief executive -- the first former university president to assume the role -- Brand was president of Indiana University from 1994 through 2002.

In 2000, Brand vaulted into the spotlight when he fired longtime Hoosiers basketball coach Bobby Knight after the volatile coach violated his "zero- tolerance" policy, set in place after numerous prior incidents.

Brand, who was also president at Oregon from 1989 to 1994, was best known for his accomplishments in academic reform and advocacy of intercollegiate athletics.

"Myles Brand will be remembered not only for his unyielding demand that intercollegiate athletics reflect the values of higher education but also for his advocacy of the student-athlete," said NCAA executive vice president Bernard Franklin. "This was a man who understood the importance of higher education, as well as the benefit of athletics participation as part of the educational experience."

A native of Brooklyn, Brand earned his bachelors' degree at RPI then a doctorate from the University of Rochester, and held multiple positions at Pitt, Ohio State, the University of Arizona and the University of Illinois- Chicago before landing at Oregon.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy, and one son, Joshua.

















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