Jim Delany

Jim Delany was an historic leader in college athletics for more than 40 years, serving as commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference for 10 years and then the Big Ten Conference for 31 years during significant periods of transformation and growth. During his 41-year tenure, Delany led negotiations on behalf of the Big Ten, NCAA, and CFP with all major television networks resulting in rights fees totaling more than $30 billion. The Big Ten Conference saw unprecedented levels of national television coverage during Delany’s tenure, highlighted by the creation of the Big Ten Network in 2007. In July 2024, the Big Ten Network officially dedicated Studio D to Delany and named it in his honor.