IRVING, Texas (Oct. 10, 2025) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame joins the college football community in mourning the passing of Mark Womack, the Executive Associate Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), who passed away Oct. 6. He was 70 years old.

"Mark Womack was one of the most respected and trusted administrators in college football," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "I had the privilege of working with Mark at every stop during my career – at bowl games, in conference offices, on NCAA committees, and through the NFF – and I always admired his professionalism, humility, and integrity. He simply was a great guy who loved the game and cared deeply about the people in it. He was a football guy, and he played a huge role in growing our sport. We are forever grateful for his many contributions and deeply saddened by his passing."
 
Mark Womack spent nearly half a century of his professional career as a member of the SEC staff. Prior to becoming the executive associate commissioner, Womack served as Chief Financial Officer, was a liaison to the SEC's athletics directors, and he spearheaded scheduling efforts for the sport of football.
 
"Mark Womack was part of the fabric of the Southeastern Conference for nearly 50 years," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He played a key role in making the SEC the gold standard in college athletics, and he did it with grace, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire SEC community."
 
Womack also worked with the SEC's football bowl partners and television partners in addition to his general administration duties of SEC football and the SEC office. During his 47 years in the SEC office, Womack witnessed 20 football national champions from the conference and the SEC experienced unparalleled success across all sports. He was also instrumental in negotiating some of the most lucrative television contracts in the history of college sports.
 
Womack played an integral role in the growth of the SEC as its footprint has grown from seven states when he joined the Conference office in 1978 to 12 states today. The SEC expanded from 10 members to 12 in 1991 with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina, then to 14 in 2012 with the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M, and once again to 16 members when Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.  He was instrumental in the development of the first SEC Football Championship Game in 1992, the first conference championship of its type in Division I.
 
Womack twice served as acting commissioner, first in 1986 before the SEC hired Harvey Schiller, then again in 1989 prior to Roy Kramer being named commissioner. He has worked alongside five of the SEC's eight commissioners, including H. Boyd McWhorter, Schiller, Kramer, Mike Slive and current commissioner Greg Sankey.
 
Womack joined the SEC in 1978 as Assistant Public Relations Director under then-SEC publicist Scoop Hudgins. The following year, he became Assistant to the Commissioner for Administration and Information. In 1981, Womack was promoted to Assistant Commissioner, a title he held until 1988 when he was promoted again to Associate Commissioner.
 
In 2023 Womack was honored by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame as its Distinguished American Sportsman of the Year. He was born January 12, 1955 in Scottsboro, Ala., and raised in Tuscaloosa. Womack earned his bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Alabama in 1978.
 
Womack is survived by his son John David Womack and Stephanie Womack who he married in 1994. He was preceded in death by parents Billy Mack Womack and Mable Carter Womack, and brother Tommy Womack.

SECSports.com contributed to this tribute.