Fairfax, Va. – George Mason University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Brad Edwards announced today that Malcolm Grace has been named the department's Deputy Athletic Director for Compliance and NCAA Governance.

Possessing an extensive background built from all facets of intercollegiate compliance, Grace's career includes more than 15 years in the law profession, six years in NCAA Division I compliance in the Big East and Big Ten conferences, as well as NCAA National office experience as a post-graduate intern with enforcement.
 
"We are excited to welcome Malcolm to our athletic department and university," Edwards said. "His holistic experience and background in the legal profession, intercollegiate athletics and as a former student-athlete makes him a perfect fit to direct our Compliance and NCAA Governance department while serving as an integral member of our leadership team. Our department will benefit tremendously from his Power Five experience, his work with a championship men's basketball program at Villanova, and his post-graduate achievements with the NCAA. Additionally, Malcolm's commitment and significant work towards diversity and inclusion initiatives align with our core values at George Mason."
 
Grace joins Mason after serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance for Villanova since July 2017. In this role, he managed NCAA, Big East Conference, and University rules compliance for coaches, staff, student-athletes, and stakeholders for the men's basketball, women's basketball and women's soccer programs. Additionally, he served as the sport administrator for the Wildcats' women's soccer program.
 
A leader in the athletic department, Grace took on additional committee roles. He was the executive director for Villanova's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and served on Villanova's Professional Sports Career Counseling Panel, managing procedures for student-athletes entering the professional drafts for the NBA, NFL, MLS and WPSL leagues.
 
The Columbia, Maryland, native is a five-year member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) Legislative and Governance Subcommittee, which conducts in-depth reviews of annual legislative proposals and provides feedback to the NCAA. A two-year member of the NCAA Transfer Portal Advisory Group, Grace advises NCAA staff on operations and enhancements to make the application more effective, efficient for the student-athletes and coaches.
 
"I am proud and excited to join the George Mason Athletic Department," said Grace. "Mason has elite student-athletes and athletic programs competing in premier Division I conferences, including the Atlantic 10, Mid-American, and Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Brad Edwards, his leadership team, and the Mason coaches are all committed to excellence in the classroom and in competition. I'm thrilled about my family's move back home to the DMV. George Mason is a perfect fit and I can't wait to get to work."
 
Before Villanova, Grace was the Director of Compliance for two years at Rutgers University. Grace was the lead compliance contact for six varsity Scarlet Knight athletic teams including women's basketball, women's soccer, women's lacrosse, gymnastics, softball and men's track & field.
 
Grace began his career in compliance at the NCAA national office as a Post-Graduate Intern for Enforcement from June, 2014 until April, 2015. During this internship, he investigated and processed Level I, II, and III infractions of NCAA bylaws at Division I, II, and III institutions.
 
Before getting involved in college athletics, Grace worked for 15 years as a lawyer, congressional counsel, and lobbyist in Washington, D.C. His last seven years in D.C., were as Vice-President & General Counsel at a prominent lobbyist firm.
 
Grace earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Syracuse University in May, 1994. In addition to being a Dean's List student, he was a four-year member of the men's soccer team and served as a team captain as a senior in 1993. He went on to earn a Law Degree from Syracuse in 1997.