New Sugar Bowl CEO Hundley taking over July 1

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sugar Bowl officials say the organization is set to welcome Jeff Hundley as new chief executive officer on July 1.

Hundley will succeed Paul Houlahan, who is retiring after 23 years running one of college football’s premier postseason games.

Hundley has served as the bowl’s assistant executive director since 1993 and has helped administer five previous national championship games in New Orleans. He also will direct the host committee for the College Football Playoff title game slated for New Orleans in 2020.

Currently, the Sugar Bowl is a matchup of the top non-CFP teams from the Southeastern Conference and Big 12.

Hundley also has served in a leading administrative role for the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, which were both held in New Orleans.

He also helped New Orleans acquired the rights to host the Women’s Final Four again in 2020.