John Marinatto Told To Resign As Big East Commissioner, According To Report

Big East commissioner John Marinatto resigned from his position on Monday morning amid reports that he was forced out by the school presidents. The Big East conference has released a statement, confirming Marinatto’s resignation and announcing that Joseph A. Bailey III will serve as the interim commissioner until a permanent one is found.

Here is the full Big East press release:

John Marinatto resigned from his role as commissioner of the Big East Conference on Monday morning, but that resignation may not have been his own decision. CBS Sports Brett McMurphy reported on Twitter:

The Big East has dealt with a lot of instability over the past few months, including several defections of long time Big East programs, and will now be searching for a new commissioner. Marinatto was responsible for bringing in eight new members, but powerhouse schools such as West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse left under his watch.

The Big East has lost just about every classic Big East school over the past decade or so, and now it’s down a commissioner, according to CBS Sports’ Brett McMurphy. John Marinatto, who’s led the league since 2009 and was just its third commissioner, has reportedly stepped down from his post.

Marinatto has drawn frequent criticism for the losses the conference sustained in realignment and its shifting identity, which is no longer that of a northeastern basketball league and now more of a global football conglomerate. When Pitt and Syracuse left for the ACC, Marinatto only found out after the deal had all but been announced.