Former MLB Executive and Sports Lawyer Named Big East Commissioner
Tim Brosnan, a former Major League Baseball executive and a lawyer, has been named the sixth commissioner of the Big East Conference.
Brosnan will succeed Val Ackerman, who announced her retirement in April. He will begin his tenure Sept. 1.
The appointment followed a national search conducted by the presidents of the Big East’s 11 member institutions with assistance from Elevate Talent. The Rev. Brian J. Shanley, president of St. John’s University and chair of the conference’s board of directors, led the search committee.
“In our search for the next commissioner of the Big East, we prioritized finding someone with extensive experience in the area of revenue generation and who would best fit the mission and vision of our conference going forward,” Shanley said. “His track record of forging highly successful partnerships will be critical in this new era of college athletics.”
Brosnan spent 24 years with Major League Baseball, eventually serving as executive vice president for business and president and CEO of Major League Baseball Enterprises.
He joined MLB in 1991 as vice president for business affairs with Major League Baseball International and was named its president and CEO two years later. In 2000, he became executive vice president for business, overseeing areas including broadcasting and media rights, licensing, corporate sales, marketing, special events, MLB Charities and MLB Productions.
Brosnan also led negotiations for MLB’s national media rights. According to the Big East, media negotiations conducted during his tenure generated more than $20 billion for the league.
He was involved in the development and launch of MLB Network, which debuted in 2009, and the World Baseball Classic, first played in 2006. In 2014, Brosnan was one of three finalists considered to succeed Bud Selig as MLB commissioner.
“The Big East is one of the most iconic brands in college sports, and I am grateful and deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead the conference into its next chapter,” Brosnan said. “Together with our member institutions, and all of our Big East partners, we will continue to elevate the student-athlete experience, strengthen the conference’s competitive position and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.”
After leaving MLB, Brosnan operated a sports media consulting business he started in 2015. His subsequent work included serving as acting CEO of PrimeSport and consulting for organizations and companies including MLB clubs, Carlyle, KKR, the United Soccer League, Activision, FanDuel, TBT Enterprises and the American Flag Football League.
Brosnan also has longstanding ties to the Big East and Georgetown.
He was a four-year letter winner as a pitcher for Georgetown’s baseball team and served as team captain during his senior season. He later served on Georgetown’s Board of Regents and chaired its Athletic Committee.
From 2021 to 2025, Brosnan served as chief executive of Hoyas Rising, an organization that supported name, image and likeness opportunities for Georgetown athletes.
Brosnan graduated from Georgetown in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in government and earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1984.
Before joining MLB, Brosnan worked for the New York State Commission on Government Integrity after being appointed to the commission by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1987. He began as staff counsel and became counsel to the chairman in 1989.
Brosnan has also held positions with several nonprofit and educational organizations. He is a founder and board member emeritus of George Jackson Academy and De La Salle Academy in New York and has served with organizations including the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, Fordham Law School Alumni Association and New York City Sports Development Corp.