The American Athletic Conference is on the verge of hiring former Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti as its next commissioner, according to sources familiar with the move. Pernetti, a New Jersey native and former Rutgers football player, currently serves as the president of IMG Academy in Florida. The deal has not been officially announced yet, but it is in the final stages of completion.
As the AAC looks to replace outgoing commissioner Mike Aresco, Yahoo! Sports first reported that the conference had set its sights on Pernetti as the frontrunner for the position. Pernetti’s appointment comes at a time when the conference continues to evolve and prepare for new members while bidding farewell to others.
Prior to his tenure at Rutgers, Pernetti worked in sports programming for ABC and was instrumental in the launch of College Sports Television. During his time at Rutgers from 2009-2013, he played a key role in securing the school’s membership in the Big Ten conference. However, he resigned from his position at Rutgers after a scandal involving the abuse of players by the men’s basketball coach. Despite this dark chapter in his past, Pernetti has proven himself capable of leading a successful sports program and is expected to bring valuable experience and expertise to his new role as AAC commissioner.
