Michael Sainté serves as the Senior Associate Commissioner for Governance & Compliance for the Atlantic 10 Conference, where he oversees NCAA, state, and federal legislative governance matters while supporting the Conference’s compliance services, staff coordination, and office policies. He also serves as the liaison to the A-10 Faculty Athletic Representatives and coordinates select academic awards, the Bernadette V. McGlade Postgraduate Scholarship Program, and student services grant initiatives.
Sainté joined the Atlantic 10 in 2024 following a career focused on compliance, governance, and student-athlete development within intercollegiate athletics. Prior to joining the Conference, he served as Director of Compliance at Fordham University, where he managed all aspects of NCAA, Atlantic 10, and Patriot League compliance while overseeing the department’s Name, Image, and Likeness program. He previously spent six years with the Big East Conference, advancing to Senior Director of Compliance and Membership Services, where he led conference compliance operations, academic programming, and student-athlete initiatives.
Sainté began his career in compliance at Georgia State University and later served as Director of Compliance at UNC Greensboro. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University and a master’s degree in sports administration from Georgia State University. A graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, Sainté is also an officer with the National Association for Athletic Compliance and will serve as president of the organization for the 2026-27 academic year.