The American Athletic Conference is on the hunt for a new commissioner, and sources have confirmed that Tim Pernetti is being considered for the position. Pernetti, who currently serves as the president of IMG Academy, has extensive experience in the college sports industry. He previously held the role of athletic director at Rutgers and has a strong background in television. Additionally, Pernetti has professional experience from his time as the Chief Business Officer for New York City FC of the MLS.
The AAC has undergone significant changes in recent years with the addition of Rice, UTSA, North Texas, FAU, UAB, and Charlotte to the conference. The league currently has a television contract with ESPN that extends through the 2031-32 academic year. With a diverse set of skills and experiences, Pernetti could be an ideal fit for this role.
Pernetti’s background in television gives him a unique perspective on how to effectively market college sports to audiences across various platforms. He began his career at CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) and later worked for ABC Sports and ABC Enhanced TV before moving into college sports administration at Rutgers. Despite facing controversy following the Mike Rice scandal at Rutgers, Pernetti quickly reemerged as a prominent executive in the college sports industry.
As commissioner of the AAC, Pernetti could bring his diverse background and expertise to help navigate the league through its ongoing growth and success. The trend of non-traditional hires in college sports leadership positions continues with Brett Yormark of the Big 12 and Jim Phillips of the ACC. If appointed commissioner, Pernetti would continue this trend by bringing together his diverse set of skills to lead one of college sports’ most dynamic conferences forward into an exciting future.
