The ACC and commissioner Jim Phillips have agreed to a contract extension, a conference source confirmed to The Athletic. An extension had been in the works between the two parties for at least a few weeks. ESPN first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- Phillips is entering his third year at the helm of the conference after a long run as athletic director at Northwestern. He has served on several influential NCAA committees, including the NCAA Board of Directors, Board of Governors and Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee.
- The ACC’s current grant of rights contract ties its members together through 2035-36, but recent discussions over how to generate additional revenue or divide it differently among ACC schools have left the conference focused increasingly on its future.
- Phillips was tabbed to replace John Swofford atop the ACC during a period of significant turnover among Power 5 commissioners; the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12 also introduced new leaders between 2020 and 2022. The SEC’s Greg Sankey is the longest-tenured P5 commissioner, having held the role since June 2015.
What it means for the Big Ten
The news of Phillips’ extension is quite notable from a timing standpoint. The Big Ten is in the final stages of its search for a new…
