Jim collaborates with athletic directors and institutional leaders to help them reimagine the future of college sports, bringing a rare combination of conference leadership experience, legal expertise, and deep knowledge of the forces reshaping intercollegiate athletics today. He remains focused on supporting the full student-athlete experience as institutions navigate the evolving economics and governance of college sports.
About Jim
Jim served as Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1989 to 2020, a 30-year tenure that transformed one of college athletics' most storied conferences and shaped the national landscape of intercollegiate sports. During his time leading the Big Ten, he oversaw the creation of the Big Ten Network, the conference's expansion from 10 to 14 member institutions, and was widely regarded as a driving force in the creation and stewardship of the Bowl Championship Series. He also played a central role in negotiating a landmark $6 billion, 11-year CBS contract for the men's basketball NCAA Tournament and led the development and implementation of the first college football instant replay system.
Before his three decades at the Big Ten, Jim served as Commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference and held an enforcement role at the NCAA, following earlier work as Counsel to the North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee and as a Staff Attorney for the North Carolina Justice Department.
A former basketball player himself, Jim was a member of two NCAA Final Four squads and served as co-captain of the UNC team his senior year.