Richard M. Bay (born 1941 or 1942) is a former American football player, wrestler, college athletics administrator, Major League Baseball executive.

He was a three-time Illinois state high school wrestling champion and all-state quarterback in football.

[6] After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1965, Bay remained in Ann Arbor as an assistant wrestling coach for four years.

Bay took the position amid an NCAA investigation of past rules violations, including fake school credits and the creation of a secret fund at a local travel agency.

Bay first drew fire when he terminated a practice whereby Nike supplied free equipment to members of the track team.

Bay asserted that the practice violated NCAA rules, but Phil Knight angrily protested.

In his memoirs, Bay wrote that he replied: "Mr. Knight, I agree that you have every right to send our guys free equipment.

[15] During Bay's four years as athletic director, the 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team won the Big Ten Conference championship in 1984 with a 9–3 record.

The 1985 team also compiled a 9–3 record, defeated BYU in the Florida Citrus Bowl, and finished the season ranked No.

1986 team was Big Ten co-champion, compiled a 10–3 record, defeated Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, and finished the season ranked No.

Bay refused to carry out the order to fire Bruce who had an 81–26–1 (.755) record and had won or shared four Big Ten championships.

"[17] He also commented more broadly on the skewed values dominating college football:"We graduate our players and win about 75 percent of the time.

"[18]Bay was widely praised for his principled handling of the situation and for rejecting the win-at-all-costs approach to college athletics.

[18][19][20][21] In February 1988, he was hired as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the New York Yankees.

Bay complained that owner George Steinbrenner was trying to usurp his power,[24] and he left the Yankees to join the StarBright Group Inc., a television production company.

In December 1990, the NCAA issued findings alleging major violations by the university in improperly paying cash, extending loans and conferring other benefits on athletes.

[29] In January 1991, Bay announced that the university had issued a 300-page response to the NCAA in which admitted 18 of the 21 violations, but argued that no penalty should be imposed.

[33] During Bay's only season as CEO, the 1992 Indians improved by 19 wins over the prior year, finished in fourth place in the American League East, and compiled a 76-86 (.469) record.

San Diego State president Stephen Weber said at the time that Bay would have been fired had he not resigned.

"The university said in the audit, 'We concur,' on every point even though I'm sitting there as their athletic director and I have pretty good reason to believe this is not true," Bay said.