After a three-month searching process, the Big East announced Val Ackerman as its new commissioner Tuesday.
Ackerman joins the Big East after years of experience in the front offices of the NBA and the WNBA. In 1996, Ackerman became the president of the WNBA and acted as such until 2005. From there, she was named the president of USA Basketball, where she oversaw her role until 2008.
Ackerman joins the Big East after the conference split from the college football-centered schools in the conference, which is now known as the American Athletic Conference.
“I am honored to be given this incredible opportunity to work in partnership with the 10 world-class institutions that are marching ahead under the Big East banner,” Ackerman said in a statement. “Our mission is simple – to continue and enhance the Big East’s legacy of intense competition, spirited rivalries and unparalleled achievement.”
With Ackerman joining the Big East, there is still a laundry list of priorities to take care of. On a press conference call with reporters, Ackerman said that she needs to hire staff and find a building for Big East headquarters. She also indicated that the Big East headquarters would be based in New York.
Even more pressing, Ackerman has to figure out the schedules for winter sports, which includes the start of conference play for college basketball. Part of that schedule has already been announced with a five game marathon – including DePaul at Georgetown – December 31.
“Discussions are underway with our colleagues at Fox about schedule and about the television coverage, the nature of that and the spread of games among networks,” Ackerman said. “That’s something we’re going to have to build quickly.”
However, Ackerman’s job involves more than working with schedules and TV sponsors. When asked on what she plans to innovate with the Big East, Ackerman mentioned two intriguing possibilities of playing games internationally and expanding women’s basketball.
Ackerman has a long history of being involved with women’s basketball. Besides being named the first president of the WNBA, Ackerman played at the University of Virginia, where she was a two-time Academic All-American and four-year starter. Recently, she has been a consultant to the NCAA by analyzing women’s basketball.
As a consultant, Ackerman recommended a plethora of changes to the game, ranging from having the same site of the Final Four with the men to lowering the rim.
“Women’s basketball, obviously something, is near and dear to my heart,” Ackerman said. “I think we have potential to build the Big East and be a leader in the score. We’ve had success with certain programs there. (DePaul women’s head coach) Doug Bruno, in particular, is someone that I know well. He’s done a great job at DePaul over many years … Hopefully we can build a story there.”
“I want to make sure the Big East is at the table when important discussions are being had within the NCAA about men’s and women’s basketball,” Ackerman said.
When discussing the possibility of games overseas, Ackerman pointed to what other conferences have done with international games as a possible method.
“(Basketball) is a global sport,” Ackerman said. “There could be an opportunity for games or other events to where we could take the Big East brand global.”
One area, at least right now, Ackerman will not consider exploring is the expansion of teams in the conference. The Big East is currently at 10 members with seven – DePaul, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, Marquette and St. John’s – splitting from the football-centric schools and three schools – Xavier, Butler and Creighton – joining them.
“Ten is a great number,” Ackerman said. “We have so much on our plate right now that expansion isn’t even on our radar screen with all the other things we have to do to get the conference up and running. We’re satisfied with 10 and that’s where we’re going to be for the foreseeable future.”