BIG TEN CONFERENCE
The Big Ten Conference
Since its inception in 1896, the pursuit and attainment of
academic excellence has been a priority for every Big Ten
member institution. But maintaining the conference’s status
as one of the preeminent athletic conferences in the country
also endures as an important component of the Big Ten
student-athlete experience. Striking that balance between
academics and athletics is integral to the Big Ten’s identity,
and the Big Ten’s “Honoring Legends. Building Leaders.”
James E. Delany
campaign links directly to the Big Ten Tenmission. Recognized as Commissioner
one of the intercollegiate sports’ most successful undertakings,
the Big Ten strives for success from its student athletes not only on the field and in the
classroom, but around the world as well.
Premier Academic Institutions
Big Ten Administration
Commissioner................................................................................ James E. Delany
Deputy Commissioner........................................................................Brad Traviolia
Chief Communications Officer............................................................... Diane Dietz
Senior Associate Commissioner-Television Administration.............Mark D. Rudner
Associate Commissioner-Men's Basketball.........................................Rick Boyages
Associate Commissioner-Championships...........................................Wendy Fallen
Associate Commissioner-Compliance..................................................Chad Hawley
Associate Commissioner-Governance.............................................Jennifer Heppel
Associate Commissioner-Technology.......................................... Mike McComiskey
Associate Commissioner-Football & Basketball Operations........... Andrea Williams
Assistant Commissioner-Communications........................................... Scott Chipman
All Big Ten Universities have been granted Tier One Status by the Carnegie Foundation
for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction awarded to just over 100 universities.
Big Ten schools have produced more than 1,450 Academic All-Americans, more than
any other conference, including 46 in the last academic year. For the 2011 fiscal year,
the Big Ten led all conferences with over $8 billion in research expenditures, more
than $2 billion more than any other conference.
Big Ten Communications Staff
A History Of Athletic Success
Contact The Big Ten Office
During the 2012-13 season, the Big Ten institutions claimed seven national
championships: Indiana men’s soccer; Michigan men’s gymnastics; Michigan men’s
swimming and diving; Minnesota women’s ice hockey; Nebraska women’s bowling;
Ohio State women’s rowing; and Penn State wrestling. Over the last 10 years, the Big
Ten is tied for the conference lead with national titles in 14 different NCAA-sponsored
championships, including bowling, cross country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey,
lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball and
wrestling.
Chief Communications Officer............................................................... Diane Dietz
Assistant Commissioner-Communications....................................... Scott Chipman
Assistant Director of Communications...................................................Dan Mihalik
Robert Hammel Communications Intern/Women's Gym contact..........Olivia Truby
1500 West Higgins Road
Park Ridge, IL, 60068-6300
Phone: (847) 696-1010
Fax: (847) 696-1150
bigten.org
Broad-Based Programming
Almost 1,400 Big Ten student-athletes and coaches have participated in the Olympics,
winning at least 460 medals, including nearly 250 gold. Big Ten universities provide
over $141 million in direct financial aid to more than 8,200 student-athletes playing on
more than 300 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 26 official conference
sports, 13 for men and 13 for women, including the debut of men’s ice hockey as an
official conference sport this academic year. In 2014-15, men’s and women’s lacrosse
will be added as the conference’s 27th and 28th official sports, giving the Big Ten more
official sports than all conferences other than the Ivy League.
Passionate Following
The Big Ten leads all conferences with nearly five million alumni and more than
460,000 students. Big ten fans are some of the nation (