TV executive new Big East leader

Aresco leaves post at CBS Sports

The Big East Conference, weeks from beginning negotiations for a new league television rights deal that could determine its future, dipped into the industry Tuesday to choose its new commissioner.

Mike Aresco, executive vice president of program- ming for CBS Sports, was selected to replace John Marinatto, who was forced to resign early this year. A unanimous pick by the league’s presidents, Aresco will officially move into the role in early September. A news conference is scheduled Wednesday in New York to introduce him.

“We had many outstanding candidates, but we are fortunate to have Mike Aresco as our new commissioner,” said University of Cincinnati president Greg Williams, chair of the search committee. “His breadth of experience and depth of knowledge in intercollegiate athletics will continue to move the Big East forward on a successful path.”

Aresco was responsible for all college programming at CBS Sports, including negotiating the NCAA basketball tournament rights for CBS and Turner Sports through 2024 and for negotiating a 15-year deal with the Southeastern Con- Mike Aresco has been responsible for CBS Sports’ programming and negotiations since 1996. ference. He joined CBS Sports as vice president for programming in 1996, was promoted to senior vice president in 2000 and named executive vice president in 2008.

“Of all the people in the entire country you could have picked, he is the absolute best choice,” said AutoZone Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart, who has worked with Aresco for 25 years in various sports TV rights negotiations. “He probably has the best knowledge of the marketplace.”

Aresco assumes the commissioner’s role of a league in transition. It loses Syracuse and Pittsburgh after this season and adds six — Memphis, UCF, Houston, SMU, Boise State and San Diego State — in July 2013 and Navy in 2015. “I don’t know him very well, but I hear he is a phenome-