Tim Brosnan, the new Big East commissioner, wasted no time making a splash at Big East Basketball Media Day, openly declaring Pope Leo XIV as the conference’s “secret weapon” for the upcoming 2026-27 season. This isn’t just a random shout-out; papal support has already charmed the Chicago White Sox, Pope Leo’s childhood team, to their first playoff series win in two decades against Houston this week. Brosnan, stepping into the top role, is clearly hoping some of that good fortune rubs off on what’s arguably the world’s most prominent Catholic sports division.
The Vatican Connection and a Rome Doubleheader
Brosnan, a former MLB executive, wasn’t shy about the connection. “Look what he did with my friend Jerry Reinsdorf and the White Sox,” he joked on Thursday about Pope Leo. But the Pope’s ties to the Big East run deeper than just good vibes and a White Sox cap. He’s actually a Villanova graduate, holding a degree in mathematics from the school and having helped found Villanovans for Life, which is still the oldest collegiate pro-life club in the United States. To kick off the college basketball season, Notre Dame and Villanova are set to play a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome. Both schools said this unique event was inspired by Pope Leo’s election and serves as a way to celebrate their shared mission and heritage as Catholic institutions.
New Commissioner Brosnan’s Big East Roots and MLB Pedigree
Taking over from longtime commissioner Val Ackerman, Brosnan introduced himself to the conference at the New York media event by highlighting his own deep Big East roots. The 68-year-old executive grew up in the East Village, and he remembers taking a bus to Providence for the very first Big East Tournament back in 1980. Brosnan wasn’t just a fan, though. He was a four-year pitcher and captain on the Georgetown baseball team. After that, he came back to New York, went to Fordham Law School, and was even appointed to Gov. Mario Cuomo’s Commission on Government Integrity in the 1980s. His executive career really took off with Major League Baseball in 1991, where he made Sports Business Journal’s “50 Most Influential People in Sports” list in 2009 and was even a finalist to succeed Bud Selig as MLB commissioner in 2014. This guy has serious experience.
Beyond Divine Intervention: Brosnan’s Plan for Hoops Dominance
Brosnan is inheriting a conference that UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley probably wishes had a bit more spark, as the Big East has produced just 11 men’s NCAA Tournament teams over the past three seasons. So, while he’s joking about a “secret weapon,” Brosnan isn’t just relying on divine intervention to turn things around. He’s also stressing the need to lean hard into commerce and “better monetize our Big East assets.” He’s got a clear vision: “Our focus is on hoops. 24/7. 365,” he told Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich. “There are no days off or distractions from football. And we have the strongest combination of TV partners in the business in Fox, Peacock, Turner and ESPN.” The Big East clearly wants to be *the* basketball conference, and with that Rome doubleheader on the horizon, the 2026-27 season is already set to be one to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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