The Big East has retained Elevate Talent to lead the search for its next commissioner following Val Ackerman’s announcement last month that she will retire in August. The search will be led by Elevate Chief People Officer & Chair of Elevate Talent, Liz Moulton, and Elevate Senior Partner/College & Talent, Kyle Bowlsby.
Ackerman, a 2011 SBJ Champion and member of the Influence 125 list in December, was almost single-handedly responsible for resurrecting the Big East; served as the WNBA’s first commissioner; and has been a massively influential voice in college basketball circles over the last 15 years. Her work has included everything from major television deals with Fox, NBC and TNT to intimate work in getting the NCAA to permit NIL for players.
Elevate Talent has recently placed LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler, Stanford Athletics Chair John Donahoe, USTA CEO Craig Tiley and WTA Chair Valerie Camillo. The firm is also leading TMRW Sports’ search for a president of flag football for the new, NFL-backed pro flag league.
SBJ’s Ben Portnoy and Rob Schaefer contributed to this report.
