Big East Promotes John Marinatto To Serve As Next Commissioner
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Marinatto To Replace
Tranghese In '09 |
The Big East Conference today named Senior Associate Commissioner John Marinatto as its next Commissioner, effective when Mike Tranghese steps down from the role after the '08-09 academic year, according to Pete Thamel of the N.Y. TIMES. Marinatto, who joined the Big East in '02 after serving as Providence College AD, has been "considered Tranghese's right-hand man." Marinatto was "considered the favorite at the outset of the search for a replacement and remained that way throughout the process." Louisville AD Tom Jurich said, "John was pretty much the runaway. I think it's terrific. ... I think he's done much of the nuts and bolts and operations of the league, and knows how everything in the league works. He's not a numbers person, he's a visionary." Georgetown President Jon DeGioia and Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg led the search to find a replacement for Tranghese. The selection stemmed from a meeting of league Presidents and ADs this week in Philadelphia (N.Y. TIMES, 11/12).
ON SOLID GROUND: In Newark, Tom Luicci writes the Big East, by electing Marinatto as its third Commissioner, has "turned to another person with strong ties" to conference Founder Dave Gavitt (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/12). In N.Y., Lenn Robbins writes the selection is the "strongest possible statement by league presidents they believe their conference finally is on solid ground." Marinatto initially was not considered a "strong candidate because factions in the league believed they needed a high-profile name to give the Big East increased clout and send a strong signal that opposition to another raid, such as the one carried out" by the ACC in '04 and '05, "would be staunch." However, "recent lucrative TV deals" with ESPN and SportsNet N.Y. and the "retaining of the football conference's BCS berth assuaged concerns that the 16-school league, unlike any in the nation, was strong and united" (N.Y. POST, 11/12). ESPN.com's Brian Bennett wrote it is "safe to say this is a peaceful transition of power." By choosing a Commissioner with "such close ties to Tranghese and the league's history, Big East presidents have signaled that they like things the way they are." Marinatto is not likely to "come in and make major changes," so "forget football expansion or downsizing the 16-team basketball alignment" (ESPN.com, 11/11). In Orlando, Alan Schmadtke reported former Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg, Texas Associate AD Christine Plonsky and CBS College Sports Network Exec VP/Content Tim Pernetti were among the finalists for the job (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 11/11).
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