Jim Delany has served as Big Ten Commissioner since 1989, overseeing the conference’s rise as a premier force in college athletics. Under his leadership, the Big Ten expanded from 10 to 11 schools with the inclusion of Penn State in 1991 and established influential bowl partnerships, including the Rose, Capital One, and Alamo Bowls. He also spearheaded the development of the Bowl Championship Series and enhanced conference exposure through television initiatives, including the creation of the Big Ten Network in 2007.

Delany played a key role in advancing athletic equity, launching the Gender Equity Action Plan, and fostering championship success across men’s and women’s sports. During his tenure, Big Ten teams won numerous NCAA, BCS, and bowl championships, with football teams achieving unprecedented victories. In women’s basketball, the Big Ten earned eight national championship appearances, including its first championship title in 1999.

A former three-year varsity basketball player at the University of North Carolina, Delany holds a degree in political science and a law degree from UNC. Before his Big Ten role, he served in various legal and athletic administrative positions, including Commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. Married to Catherine (Kitty), Delany resides in Hinsdale, Illinois, with their sons Newman and James.