BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The new commissioner of the Southeastern Conference said Tuesday a task force would look at ways for the heavily penalized league to cope with repeated NCAA rules violations.

Slive at a glance

Biographical information on Mike Slive, the newly hired commissioner of the Southeastern Conference: Age: 61 Hometown: Utica, N.Y. Profession: Athletic administrator and attorney Work history: Commissioner of Conference USA, 1995-present; commissioner of Great Midwest Conference, 1991-95; senior partner and founder of Slive-Glazier Sports Group, Chicago, 1990-91; attorney and partner in Coffield, Ungaretti and Harris law firm, Chicago, 1986-91; private law practice, 1983-86; athletic director for Cornell University, 1981-83; assistant executive director of Pacific-10 Conference, 1979-81; judicial master and clerk of superior court in Grafton County, N.H., 1977-79; district judge in Hanover, N.H., 1972-77; partner in Stebbins and Bradley law firm in Hanover, N.H. 1969-77; assistant athletic director at Dartmouth College, 1968-69. Education: Masters of law, Georgetown University, 1966; law degree, University of Virginia, 1965; undergraduate degree, Dartmouth College, 1962.

Mike Slive, who has led Conference USA since its formation in 1995, said the panel would consider ways of "creating an atmosphere (where) violations are unacceptable.''

"My goal will be to work with and help our institutions when issues come up,'' Slive said at a news conference announcing his hiring. "But we don't want these issues to come up.''

The SEC has been hit with 42 major rules violations since record keeping began in 1953, the most of any league.

Two SEC football teams -- Alabama and Kentucky -- are on NCAA probation. Three others are under investigation -- Arkansas by the NCAA, Tennessee by the SEC and LSU by university officials.

Slive, who chairs the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee, said he recused himself from hearing appeals by Alabama and Kentucky once he began considering the SEC job.

Slive, 61, replaces Roy Kramer, who is retiring after turning the SEC into the richest college athletic league during his 12-year tenure.

"This conference deserves and has earned the right to set the national agenda,'' Slive said. "The agenda now is how to keep the wonderful world of intercollegiate athletics in the perspective it deserves to be in.''

Under Kramer, the SEC expanded to 12 schools and became the nation's wealthiest college conference. League revenues reached $100 million in 2001, according to Internal Revenue Service records.

But the SEC repeatedly came under NCAA scrutiny for rules scrapes, earning a growing reputation among some as a rogue league.

SEC President John White, who is chancellor of the University of Arkansas, said Slive's pay was being negotiated. Slive received $333,139 in salary and benefits at Conference USA in 2001, according to IRS records made public by the league.

"We don't expect him to suffer financially to come here,'' said White.

Kramer's total package last year was worth $409,780, according to records from the SEC.

White said Slive was "by far the consensus choice'' to replace Kramer, whose influence extended outside the SEC to heading the committee that established the formula for the Bowl Championship Series.

Slive, an attorney, was part of a firm that defended schools against NCAA investigations in the 1980s and early 1990s. Formerly a judge in New Hampshire, he is chairman of the NCAA Football USA Board of Directors and the National Letters of Intent Appeals Committee.

Slive takes over at the SEC on Aug. 1.