Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany to retire in 2020, NU president Schapiro to lead search committee

The Big Ten announced Monday that Commissioner Jim Delany, who has served in that role since 1989, will retire when his contract expires in June 2020.

The conference’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors will conduct the search for a new commissioner, and Northwestern President Morton Schapiro, the council’s chair, will lead the committee.

During Delany’s tenure as commissioner, the Big Ten Network came into existence, Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference and the Big Ten has signed several lucrative television deals.

Northwestern Athletics Director Jim Phillips, who oversaw a large-scale facilities upgrade in Evanston, is considered a front-runner to replace Delany.