The AAC is considering sports executive Tim Pernetti as its next commissioner, officials say.

The American Athletic Conference is targeting veteran college sports executive Tim Pernetti as the league's next commissioner, sources told ESPN.

Pernetti is the president of IMG Academy and has extensive experience in the collegiate field as a former athletic director at Rutgers University, as well as an impressive background in television. He also has professional experience from his time as chief business officer at New York City FC in MLS.

Pernetti has been involved in other high-profile college searches before taking the AAC job. He will replace Mike Aresco, who stepped down after serving as the only commissioner in AAC's 11-year history.

He takes over the league as it goes through a period of major change, having recently welcomed Rice, UTSA, North Texas, FAU, UAB and Charlotte. The league currently has a television contract with ESPN through the 2031-32 school year.

Pernetti brings extensive television experience from early in his career. He was his first hire for CSTV, the former College Sports Television Network. He held various positions at ABC Sports and ABC Enhanced TV from 1994 until 2003.

Pernetti was considered one of the top young athletic directors in the sport until he resigned from Rutgers after a video surfaced showing former Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice throwing basketballs at players and other abusive behavior. was.

Mr. Pernetti was seen by some as a scapegoat for the Rice scandal, but he quickly returned to the field as a prominent executive.

His background in television, the college industry, and campus experience gives him the blend of backgrounds he believes is needed in the commissioner role.

The commissioner space is trending toward nontraditional hires, such as Brett Yormark in the Big 12 and Tim Pernetti in the Big 10. (ACC's Jim Phillips comes from a previous job as athletic director at Northwestern University.) Pernetti's resume shows a little bit of both.