St. John’s University president Rev. Brian J. Shanley has been appointed as the chair of the Big East Conference board of directors, as announced by the school. Shanley was elected last week during the Big East board of directors meeting in New York, which includes the 11 presidents of the conference’s schools. He started his two-year term on June 30.
“I am grateful and excited to serve as Chair of the Big East board of directors and build on the accomplishments of my predecessor, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., Ph.D,” Shanley stated. “These are challenging and exciting times in the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. With the rich Big East history, a global brand, and our proven record as a competitive and visionary conference, there are only growth opportunities for our basketball-centric conference now and in the future.”
Shanley became president of St. John’s in 2021 as the school’s 18th president, following 15 years at Providence College, another Big East school.
“We look forward to working with Father Shanley in his capacity as newly elected Chair of the Big East board of directors, a leadership role for which he’s perfectly suited,” said Big East commissioner Val Ackerman. “His decades-long experience in higher education, his acute understanding of the values of the conference and our schools, and his commitment to continued Big East success in the sport of basketball will be invaluable as we navigate the shifting terrain in our operating environment.”
Under Shanley’s leadership, the St. John’s men’s basketball team has achieved success not seen since the 1980s, highlighted by the hiring of Hall-of-Fame coach Rick Pitino two years ago. The Red Storm recently completed their most successful season in 40 years, securing the Big East regular season and Tournament title, and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
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