PROVIDENCE – John Marinatto, who has served as senior associate commissioner of The BIG EAST Conference since 2002, has been named Commissioner of the conference. The appointment was made by a unanimous vote of the league’s Chancellors and Presidents.
Marinatto will succeed Mike Tranghese, who is stepping down as Commissioner in June 2009. Marinatto will assume Commissioner’s duties on July 1, 2009.
“For 30 years, The BIG EAST Conference has enjoyed tremendous success and one of the keys to that success has been the stability in the Commissioner’s chair,” said Richard L. McCormick, President of Rutgers University and Chair of the BIG EAST Presidents. “John Marinatto has been a critical contributor to the growth of the conference for many years and he will continue the lineage of effective leadership for the BIG EAST.”
“Measured against an outstanding pool of candidates, John Marinatto was our unanimous choice to lead the BIG EAST,” said Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh who was a co-chair of the search process. “John has helped shape our history, and he is passionate about our future. He already enjoys the trust and respect of our Presidents and athletic directors, and is highly regarded within the conference staff. We know that he will lead the BIG EAST with both wisdom and integrity, and we all look forward to working with him.”
As senior associate commissioner, Marinatto has served as the BIG EAST’s Chief Operating Officer and has been responsible for the daily administration of the conference office. He oversees all administrative operations, including NCAA governance, finance, compliance, communications, television and championships. Marinatto has been the daily contact with the league’s athletic directors regarding governance and operational matters.
Marinatto, a native of Providence, R.I., has been a member of the NCAA Management Council and NCAA Business and Finance Cabinet and currently serves as the Conference’s representative to the NCAA Leadership Council. He served as the Chief Financial and Business Officer of the Bowl Championship Series from 2002-04.
Prior to working at the BIG EAST, Marinatto was the athletic director at Providence College for 14 years. He directed all aspects of the Friar athletic program, including a $10 million annual budget and a staff of over 100 employees.
While at Providence, Marinatto served as the Chairman of the BIG EAST Athletic Directors’ Executive Committee from 1996-2000, the longest tenure of any athletic director in the history of the conference. He also served the conference as the Chairman of the Athletic Directors’ Finance Committee from 1992-93.
In addition, Marinatto served as Chairman of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Women’s Basketball Committee and Television Committee, and was a member of the Men’s Basketball Committee, Academic Affairs Committee and Championships and Competition Committee.
Prior to his term as athletic director, Marinatto worked at Providence as an Associate Director of Alumni/Development and Director of Sports Information.
Marinatto graduated from Providence College in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
