Indianapolis, Indiana - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has selected Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker as its next president to succeed Mark Emmert.

Baker, a Republican who has served as governor of Massachusetts since January 2015, will conclude his second term in January and begin his new position as NCAA president in March, the league announced Thursday.

A former power forward for Harvard basketball from 1977-78, Baker has no previous collegiate administrative experience but has a "history of successfully forging bipartisan solutions to complex problems," which stood out to the search committee as it uniquely suits the current needs of the NCAA.

The 66-year-old has spent most of his career in Massachusetts' state government, but also has a decade's worth of experience in healthcare administration. He holds degrees from both Harvard and Northwestern.

"I am honored to become the next president of the NCAA, an organization that impacts millions of families and countless communities across this country every day," Governor Baker said in a statement. "The NCAA is confronting complex and significant challenges, but I am excited to get to work as the awesome opportunity college athletics provides to so many students is more than worth the challenge."

In April, Emmert announced his resignation as current president after holding the position since November 2010. He will remain in an advisory role until June.

As the NCAA has faced several high-profile legal challenges in recent years, Baker's background in politics and policy fueled his candidacy.

"We are excited to welcome Governor Charlie Baker to the NCAA and eager for him to begin his work with our organization," Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University and Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors said in a statement. "Governor Baker has shown a remarkable ability to bridge divides and build bipartisan consensus, taking on complex challenges in innovative and effective ways."

Livingstone assisted in leading the search for a new president along with six others, including former Duke basketball standout Grant Hill who is the current co-owner of NBA team the Atlanta Hawks.

"We know that to be successful, the NCAA president needs to possess the ability to balance competing priorities, inspire a shared vision, and create a broad sense of trust," Hill said in a statement.

He added: "As Governor of Massachusetts and a successful private sector CEO, Charlie Baker has demonstrated the type of results-oriented, bipartisan approach that we will need to bolster the well-being of student-athletes, realize the opportunities and overcome the challenges facing the NCAA."

Baker is set to attend this year's NCAA convention beginning January 11 in San Antonio, Texas.