Doug Gillin, who’s been leading Appalachian State University’s athletics program with a steady hand, just landed a spot on the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee. The news came straight from Rich Clark, the CFP’s executive director.
Gillin is stepping in for Dr. Bryan Maggard, who recently took on a new role as deputy athletics director and COO at the University of Missouri. Maggard had previously served as Louisiana’s athletic director.
With years under his belt and a reputation for strong leadership, Gillin brings a lot to the table for the committee. This group is in charge of ranking the top 25 college football teams—no small task, honestly.
Doug Gillin’s Journey to the CFP Selection Committee
Gillin’s spot on the CFP Selection Committee feels like the next logical step in a pretty impressive career. He’s now entering his 12th year at Appalachian State, and the university’s athletics program has really made a name for itself during his time there.
Under Gillin, App State football grabbed multiple conference championships. They even cracked the top 25 in the final CFP ranking back in 2019, which is a big deal for a program that only recently made the jump to the FBS level.
Leadership at Appalachian State
Gillin started as Director of Athletics in February 2015, right as App State was transitioning from the FCS to the Sun Belt Conference in the FBS. His time there has been anything but quiet.
- Multiple conference championships
- A top 25 final CFP ranking in 2019
- Winning bowl games in each of App State’s first six eligible FBS seasons (2015-20)
- 98 wins since 2015, ranking in the top 15 nationally
- Hosting ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time in 2022
People have definitely noticed what Gillin’s done. He was named one of four national Under Armour Athletics Directors of the Year in 2019-20.
He also served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee from 2020 to 2023. Not too shabby, right?
Doug Gillin’s Professional Background
Before Appalachian State, Gillin wasn’t exactly sitting still. He held the deputy director of athletics position at Missouri from 2012 to 2015.
Before that, he worked in senior leadership at ISP Sports/IMG College between 2002 and 2012. Earlier in his career, he spent time on college campuses at Lehigh, New Mexico, and Syracuse, picking up a ton of experience along the way.
Academic and Athletic Achievements
Gillin isn’t just about administration. He grew up in Binghamton, New York, and played four years of ice hockey at SUNY Cortland.
He graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1991 with a B.S. in physical education, then earned a master’s degree in physical education from Ohio University. Not many can say they’ve done both sides of college sports like that.
The Role of the CFP Selection Committee
The CFP Selection Committee has a pretty big job. They meet in person starting in early November and put together weekly rankings of the top 25 teams leading up to the final picks.
Their decisions shape which teams get a shot at the College Football Playoff—and, ultimately, the national championship. The pressure’s real.
How the CFP Works
The College Football Playoff uses a 12-team bracket, and here’s the gist:
- Conference champions from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference
- The highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, Pac-12 Conference, or Sun Belt Conference
- The next seven highest-ranked teams
Notre Dame gets in if it’s ranked in the top 12 at the end. The setup includes four CFP First-Round games on host campuses, then the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, which rotate each year among six big bowl games: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The CFP National Championship? That’s set for Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Should be quite the show.
Looking Forward
Doug Gillin’s appointment to the CFP Selection Committee marks a big moment in his career. It’s also a nod to everything he’s brought to college athletics so far.
He’s got a real passion for college football and for supporting student-athletes. That, plus years of experience, makes him a strong fit for the committee.
Will his leadership and perspective help shape the future of the sport? I’d bet on it, though time will tell.
For more on Doug Gillin’s appointment and the College Football Playoff, check out the official announcement.
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