Big East Conference (2013–present)
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| Big East Conference (2013–present) | |
|---|---|
.png) Patrickneil, original by Heitordp · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source | |
| Name | Big East Conference |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Association | NCAA |
| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | FBS (football schools not applicable) |
| Sports | 22 |
| Mens | 11 |
| Womens | 11 |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Commissioner | Val Ackerman |
| Website | BigEast.com |
Big East Conference (2013–present) is a collegiate athletic conference that began competition in 2013 after a realignment that split the original Big East Conference into a new, basketball-focused league and a separate American Athletic Conference. The conference is composed primarily of private, urban institutions in the Northeastern United States and Midwest United States, emphasizing men's and women's college basketball while sponsoring a variety of NCAA championship sports. Member institutions maintain rivalries with programs from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Southeastern Conference through non-conference scheduling and postseason play.
History
The modern conference emerged from negotiations among founding institutions including Georgetown University, Villanova University, Marquette University, Seton Hall University, St. John's University, Providence College, DePaul University, and Butler University that sought to preserve basketball heritage associated with the original Big East Conference (1979–2013). High-profile departures to the Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Atlantic Coast Conference catalyzed the split; major realignment moves involved University of Connecticut, Syracuse University, University of Pittsburgh, and Rutgers University. The new league retained the Big East name through negotiations with Madison Square Garden stakeholders and leveraged relationships with broadcasters such as FOX Sports, ESPN, and CBS Sports to secure media rights. Early years featured expansion discussions with institutions like Xavier University and Butler University migrations from the Atlantic 10 Conference and board-level decisions influenced by leaders from Providence and Villanova.
Member schools
Current full members include private institutions with strong urban presences: Villanova University (Philadelphia), Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.), Marquette University (Milwaukee), Seton Hall University (South Orange), St. John's University (Queens), Providence College (Providence), DePaul University (Chicago), Butler University (Indianapolis), Xavier University (Cincinnati), and Creighton University (Omaha). Associate members participate in specific sports, partnering with the conference for championships—examples include University of Connecticut (women's hockey historically), Wichita State University (wrestling discussions), and other institutions that align sport-by-sport with the Big East footprint. Member institutions compete in venues such as The Pavilion (Villanova) and Wells Fargo Center, and maintain academic affiliations with organizations like the Association of American Universities and the Liberal Arts Colleges community.
Sports sponsored
The conference sponsors championship competition in sports including men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, cross country, swimming and diving, tennis, golf, and track and field. Men's basketball remains the marquee sport, producing NCAA Tournament bids and regularly facing programs from Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Kentucky, and University of Kansas in non-conference play. The Big East also administers championships in sports with national prominence, matching programs against schools from the Pac-12 Conference and Big 12 Conference in postseason tournaments. Several member programs have produced notable professional athletes who advanced to leagues such as the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball.
Championships and postseason
The conference conducts an annual men's and women's basketball tournament typically held at Madison Square Garden, drawing national television coverage and affecting NCAA Tournament seeding. Big East institutions have earned multiple NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament bids, with teams like Villanova winning national championships and earning recognition alongside programs such as Kansas and UCLA. Conference champions in non-revenue sports qualify for NCAA tournaments in baseball, soccer, and lacrosse, often competing against qualifiers from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten Conference. The league's automatic qualification pathways and at-large selection profiles have been shaped by strength-of-schedule metrics and the NCAA Selection Committee.
Governance and administration
The conference is governed by an executive office in New York City led by Commissioner Val Ackerman, supported by an administrative staff and committees composed of athletic directors and presidents from member schools. Institutional control is exercised through a board of directors and sport-specific management councils that coordinate compliance with the NCAA Division I Manual and oversee matters such as student-athlete welfare, Title IX obligations, and academic progress rates. The Big East collaborates with agencies like the National Collegiate Athletic Association and negotiates scheduling matrices, championship sites, and postseason policies with stakeholders including conference athletics directors and campus presidents.
Media rights and revenue
Media rights agreements with broadcasters such as FOX Sports, CBS Sports Network, and digital partners facilitate nationwide distribution of conference games, particularly the marquee men's basketball schedule. Revenue distribution models allocate television and tournament receipts to member institutions, influencing budgeting for facilities like Hinkle Fieldhouse and ONeill Center. The conference has explored streaming partnerships with technology firms and negotiated carriage deals that affect exposure relative to conferences like the Big Ten Network and ACC Network. Media revenue supports coaching salaries, scholarships, and capital projects while being subject to market forces in collegiate sports broadcasting.
Rivalries and notable traditions
Traditional rivalries include matchups such as Villanova–Saint Joseph's rivalry (Philadelphia), Georgetown–Villanova, and Marquette–DePaul games that draw local and regional interest. The conference's tournament at Madison Square Garden is a longstanding tradition anchoring the season and evoking historical ties to the original Big East era. School-specific customs like Villanova's championship parades, Georgetown's historical prominence under coaches linked to John Thompson Jr., and Marquette's fan culture contribute to the league's identity. Rivalries extend through non-conference play with programs from Syracuse University, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers University whose departures shaped realignment narratives.