Jake Crouthamel thinks no one knows the Big East conference better than John Marinatto. Crouthamel, the former Syracuse athletic director, worked with Marinatto when Marinatto was the athletic director at Providence. The duo built up a basketball relationship between their schools. When Marinatto was promoted to senior associate commissioner of the Big East in 2002, Crouthamel, still at Syracuse, was able to see what Marinatto contributed to the entire conference.

Wednesday, Marinatto was promoted once again.

The Big East conference announced that Marinatto will be the third commissioner in conference history. Marinatto will take over as commissioner July 1, 2009, replacing Mike Tranghese. Tranghese, who served as commissioner for 19 years, announced his retirement five months ago.

‘He’ll do a fine job as commissioner,’ Crouthamel said. ‘He is a dedicated person to the Big East. He knows the conference in and out from being an A.D. and working in the Big East. He is a hard working guy.’

Crouthamel, now retired, was Syracuse’s athletic director from 1978-2005. The Big East conference was created in 1979, so Crouthamel has witnessed the conference’s entire lifespan and has seen the previous two commissioners, Tranghese and his predecessor Dave Gavitt, build the conference up to what it is today.

Marinatto served as Providence athletic director for 14 years, and congruently served as Chairman of the Big East Athletic Directors’ Executive Committee from 1996-2000, the longest tenure of any athletic director in conference history.

After a five-month search for the next commissioner, the league’s chancellors and presidents unanimously appointed Marinatto.

‘It’s been a long time since so many people said so many nice things about me,’ Marinatto said Wednesday in a teleconference announcing his appointment. ‘I truly believe the next decade will prove to be the best decade in Big East history for its members, and I look forward to the challenge.’

The Big East has established itself as a basketball powerhouse, with seven schools ranked in this year’s Top 25 preseason poll. The challenged for Marinatto lies in boosting the conference’s football credibility.

Marinatto promised the first thing on his agenda was the next Bowl Conference Series contract. He wants more postseason opportunities for Big East schools.

Marinatto stressed there would be no split within the conference, but there are also no plans for expansion.

‘(During) the past six years there has not been one thing in this conference that John has not worked intimately with,’ Tranghese, the current commissioner, said. ‘Whether it was BSC bowls or television contracts, John has been involved with it all. I’m more excited for John to take over for me than I was to take over for Dave (Gavitt).’

During his time as commissioner, Tranghese oversaw the division and what many believed was the end of the Big East in 2003.

Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College seceded from the conference to join the Atlantic Coast conference. They were replaced by Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida DePaul and Marquette. The Blue Demons and Golden Eagles only contributed basketball teams. Marinatto was on staff during the transition, working under Tranghese.

‘John exceeded our already high expectations at every stage of the interview process,’ said Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh Mark Nordenberg, who was a co-chair of the search process. ‘We knew from our long history of dealing with him what significant contributions he already made to the conference and wanted the relationship to continue.’

Over the next eight months, Marinatto will continue to serve as senior associate commissioner, but will take part in the transition process. Tranghese, who voiced he no longer wishes to travel during his remaining time at the Big East, will delegate appropriate tasks to Marinatto to help prepare him to take over in July.

Marinatto also expressed that he wants to help continue to build up the Olympic sports around the conference and welcome the addition of men’s lacrosse to the Big East in 2010.

‘I want to keep the comradely around the league,’ Marinatto said. ‘We’ve accomplished a lot in the past, but now is no time to feel content. We must continue to please the schools in our conference with our services.’

mkgalant@syr.edu

Published on November 12, 2008 at 12:00 pm