The Big Ten Conference announced Monday that Jim Delany will conclude his term as league commissioner at the end of his current contract which expires on June 30, 2020. Delany has been the commissioner of the Big Ten conference for the last three decades.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to serve and lead these preeminent institutions, presidents, administrators, coaches and students,” Delany said in a statement Monday. “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.”
The search for a new commissioner is now underway, and Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) Chair Morton Schapiro will lead in finding Delany's replacement. Korn Ferry has been retained to assist in the search.
“Jim has had an extraordinary impact on the Big Ten Conference, its member institutions, administrators, students and coaches since 1989,” 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.”
Added Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland & Rutgers ✅
Created @B1GMBBall tourney ✅
Created @B1Gfootball title game ✅
First to use instant replay in college football ✅
First to create a national network ✅
That's just a sampling of the many things Jim Delany did for @bigten. pic.twitter.com/8XqOUsSQP5
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 4, 2019
