By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Big Ten Commissioner James D. Delaney will leave the conference when his contract expires. He will leave after on June 30, 2020.
The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) will begin a search to find his replacement. Korn Ferry will be retained in the search for a new Commissioner.
“Jim has had an extraordinary impact on the Big Ten Conference, its members institutions, administrators, students, and coaches since 1989,” COP/C Executive Committee Chair Morton Schapiro said. “He has been a forward-thinking, collaborative and decisive leader in every aspect of conference proceedings. We thank him for his dedicated service to date and look forward to working with him through the conclusion of his contract.”
Delaney is 71-years-old. He helped create the Bowl Championship Series, which has been replaced by the College Football Playoff.
Under his watch, the Big Ten launched the Big Ten Network. He also expanded the schools from 11 to 14 with the additions of the University of Nebraska in 2011, along with the University of Maryland and Rutgers University in 2014.
He helped Big Ten Conference schools participate in seven bowl games. Delaney helped with the development and implementation of the first college football instant replay system.
He also helped in the negotiations with CBS to receive $6 billion from an 11-year contract for the men’s basketball NCAA tournament.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to serve and lead these preeminent institutions, presidents, administrators, coaches and students,” said Delany. “It is incredibly fulfilling to support the hundreds of thousands of young men and women who have been afforded an opportunity to obtain best-in-class educations as a result of the invaluable, one-of-a-kind lessons learned through the unique combination of athletic and classroom competition.
“I would like to recognize and thank each of my colleagues for being such invaluable members of, and contributors to, the Big Ten Conference team, while acknowledging that there is still plenty of work to be done. I look forward to continuing that work through the balance of my term.”
