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Julie Roe Lach, commissioner of the Indianapolis-based Horizon League since 2021, is leaving her job to join Pacers Sports & Entertainment as executive vice president of external relations and community engagement, PS&E announced Thursday.
Lach has been with the Horizon League since 2014, when she was hired as deputy commissioner. She previously spent more than 15 years with the Indianapolis-based NCAA, including as vice president of enforcement from 2010 to 2013.
PS&E is the parent of the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Noblesville Boom, Pacers Foundation and Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
PS&E said Lach will begin the new job in the “coming months.”
“Julie brings an incredible track record of leadership, deep ties to Indianapolis and a passionate commitment to our community,” Mel Raines, CEO of PS&E, said in written remarks. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Pacers Sports & Entertainment family and are confident she will have an immediate and lasting impact on our organization and the broader community.”
Lach also serves on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association board of directors. She previously chaired the NCAA’s Women’s Basketball Ad Hoc Recruiting Committee.
She currently is chair of the Indiana Sports Corp. board of directors, where she led development of its 2050 Vision plan, a 25-year statewide strategic effort to make Indiana the global epicenter of sports.
Lach also recently co-chaired the Women Engagement Committee for WNBA All-Star 2025 in Indianapolis. She was named to IBJ’s Indiana 250, a list of the most influential leaders in Indiana, earlier this year.
“I’m excited and grateful to join the Pacers Sports & Entertainment team,” Lach said in written remarks. “PS&E is a unifying force for our city and state with inspiring basketball teams and a commitment to use the powerful platform of sports to make a difference in our communities.”
The 47-year-old Horizon League is made up of 11 public and private universities, including Indiana University-Indianapolis and Purdue University Fort Wayne. It has teams in 19 sports, nine for men and 10 for women.
Lach will remain in her conference position through the semester. The league’s board of directors said it will finalize the plan for the search process beginning next week.
“The Horizon League has flourished under the leadership of Commissioner Julie Roe Lach,” board chair Sue Edwards said in written remarks. “While we are saddened to see Julie depart, we are deeply grateful for her many contributions. Thanks to the strong foundation established by Julie and her team, the Horizon League is well positioned to continue its positive trajectory.”
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