Big Ten announces Jim Delany will step down in June 2020

Jim Delany will step down as Big Ten commissioner when his contract expires in June 2020.

The 71-year-old has been commissioner since 1989 and established himself as one of the biggest movers and shakers in U.S. sports. He oversaw three expansions to increase Big Ten membership from 10 to 14 schools and conference revenues increased dramatically under his watch.

Delany became the Big Ten’s fifth commissioner when he succeeded Wayne Duke in 1989.

When Delany launched the BigTenNetwork in partnership with Fox in 2006, the Big Ten became the first Power Five conference with a television network devoted solely to programming of league events. The network was the first in cable/satellite history to reach 30 million households within its first 30 days on the air.

Delany expanded the Big Ten’s geographic footprint from the upper Midwest to the East Coast. Penn State began competition in the league in 1991. Nebraska joined in 2011 andMaryland andRutgers in 2014. The addition of Nebraska led the Big Ten to split into divisions in football and play a conference championship game. The additions of Maryland and Rutgers led Delany to open a second conference office in New York.

NHL

TED LINDSAY DIES AT 93 >> Ted Lindsay, the Hall of Famer who provided muscle and meanness on the Detroit Red Wings’ mighty “Production Line” of the 1950s and helped pioneer the first NHLplayers’ union, died Monday. He was 93.

Lew LaPaugh, president of the Ted Lindsay Foundation, which raises money for autism research, said Lindsay died at his home in Michigan.

Born July 29, 1925, in Renfrew, Ontario, Lindsay joined the Red Wings in the 1944-45season. He led the NHL with 33 goals in 1947-48 and won the Art Ross Trophy in 1949-50 when he had 23 goals and a league-best 55 assists.

He finished his NHL career with 379 goals and 472 assists in 1,068 games, spending 14 of his 17 seasons with Detroit. With Howe and Lindsay centered first by Abel and then byAlexDelvecchio, the Red Wingswon Stanley Cups in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955.

Lindsay retired following the 1959-60seasonand focused on his automotive business. He came back for one more season with the Red Wings in 1964-65. Lindsay returned to Detroit as general manager in 1977 and remained in that role until 1980. During the 1980-81 season, he coached the team for 20 games.

College basketball

GONZAGA AND VIRGINIA

HOLDONTOTOPSPOTSIN AP POLL >> Gonzaga and Virginia remain Nos. 1-2 in a week of big changes in the AP Top 25 .

The Bulldogs received 42 of 64 votes after finishing an undefeated run through the West Coast Conference. The Cavaliers had 21 first-place votes and No. 4 Duke, which fell a spot, had the remaining one.