The American Athletic Conference announced Wednesday that Tim Pernetti will be its new commissioner.
Pernetti is the second commissioner in the history of the AAC. He’ll succeed Mike Aresco, who retired in December 2023.
READ: Memphis extends HC Ryan Silverfield through 2028
“It is truly an honor to be selected by the Chancellors and Presidents of the American Athletic Conference to serve as their commissioner at this important time in collegiate athletics that demands innovative leadership and consensus-driven change,” Pernetti stated in a release. “I am fired-up to work alongside our board, conference staff, athletics directors and coaches as we continue to transform the AAC into a bold collegiate conference enterprise that promotes world-class academic and athletic opportunities for our student-athletes through innovative resources, brand partnerships and emerging opportunities. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and, alongside our conference community, get to work.”
Pernetti will be his tenure in June, according to a release.
Among the places he’s worked include serving “as president of IMG Academy, executive vice president of the global sports and entertainment company, Endeavor, president of IMG College and executive vice president, content, CBS College Sports.”
READ: Nevada hires Kansas analyst Matt Lubick as OC
Pernetti “oversaw a $100M capital expansion of IMG Academy” and “was part of the executive team that sold IMG Academy for $1.25B to EQT in 2023,” according to a release.
”Tim Pernetti is the ideal leader to guide the American Athletic Conference through this pivotal time in college athletics,” Chancellor of East Carolina University Philp Rogers stated in a release. “His perspective as a successful student-athlete, a respected and progressive director of athletics, and his demonstrated leadership, innovation, competitive spirit, and business acumen across a number of professional organizations make him uniquely suited to build on the success of Mike Aresco and steer the conference to a bright future.”
Pernetti also has experience as the director of intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers from 2009-13. He’s a Scarlet Knights alum who played on the football team.
At CBS College Sports from 2006-09, Pernetti was executive vice president, content, and senior vice president, programming and talent, for CSTV from 2003-06, according to a release.
READ: Malik Nabers showcases ‘dog mentality’ at LSU’s Pro Day
He has also been involved in Major League Soccer. Pernetti was chief business officer for the New York City Football Club which launched in 2015.
Pernetti also spent five years at Endeavor “where he oversaw North American business development and growth management in sports, music, events, arts and exhibitions.”
“I have known Tim for a long time, and he is a superb choice to lead this conference,” Aresco stated in a release. “He has all the qualities and skills to advance the goals of the conference and take it to greater heights. I applaud the search committee, led by Philip Rogers, for its thoroughness and ability to deliver an outstanding new commissioner. I could not be more pleased for Tim and for the conference and look forward to making the transition as seamless as possible.”
