Reowned College Sports Administrator and Former Big Eight Conference Commissioner, Late Chuck Neinas’ Longtime Wife, Patricia Pacey Thrives as Economic and Business Consulting Firm Owner and President

December 19, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on December 18, 2026

The death of Charles “Chuck” Merrill Neinas, an American sports administrator who spent decades serving as a college sports adviser, has left a profound void in the lives of his family and loved ones.

Chuck Neinas passed away on December 16, 2026, at the age of 93.

He served as commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1971 to 1980 and also as interim commissioner of the Big 12 Conference from 2011 to 2012, leaving a lasting impact on the sports community through his remarkable contributions.

Many of Chuck’s loved ones have paid tribute to him and extended their heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.

Chuck Neinas is survived by his longtime wife, Patricia “Patty” Pacey, their two sons, grandchildren, and extended family.

In addition to his contributions to sports, Chuck was known as a devoted husband and a loving father.

While many sports fans know about his professional life, very few are familiar with his family, as they preferred to maintain a low profile.

Late Chuck Neinas’s Wife, Patricia, is President of Pacey Economics, Inc. in Boulder, Colorado

Late Chuck Neinas’ wife, Patricia “Patty” Pacey Neinas, has been serving as the owner and president of Pacey Economics, an economic consulting firm in Boulder, Colorado, since 1983.

Dr. Pacey, a renowned economist, founded her consulting firm while teaching at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

She is recognized for her remarkable expertise in assessing economic issues and brings over five decades of experience to the field.

Patty graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from the University of Florida and earned her Ph.D. in economics, also with honors, from the same university.

Following her Ph.D., she worked as an analyst for the then-nascent Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C., preparing cost estimates for proposed legislation related to education, human resources, and Social Security.

After leaving government service, Dr. Pacey joined the faculty at the University of Colorado, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, including antitrust, managerial and financial economics, microeconomics, statistics, and econometrics.

She also published articles in The Southern Economic Journal, The Journal of Industrial Economics, and numerous other scholarly journals.

Dr. Pacey served as Vice Chair of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the coordinating agency responsible for higher education policy and funding.

She also worked with the board of the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting System from 2014 to 2026.

Additionally, she has participated as a speaker and lecturer for continuing legal education programs and is an active member of several economic organizations, as well as Beta Gamma Sigma, an honorary business fraternity.

Together, Chuck and Patty Neinas raised two sons who have found success in their respective fields.

Their son, Toby Neinas, has more than 30 years of experience as a collegiate football coach.

He served as assistant football coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Colorado and also held coaching positions at Montana State, where he led the team to three Big Sky Conference championships and a Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinal appearance.

Toby spent three years at the University of New Mexico (2009–2011) as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, and he coordinated special teams at San Diego State from 2006 to 2008.

His first full-time coaching role was at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he spent seven seasons (1996–2002), coaching multiple positions including outside linebackers, defensive ends, safeties, running backs, and tight ends. He also coached at Temple University from 2002 to 2005.

A graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in history in 1995, Toby began his coaching career at his alma mater. Prior to that, he attended Boulder High School, where he lettered in football.

Very little information about their other son is available as he prefers to maintain a low profile.

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Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.

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