Sports

Big East commissioner steps down

The next Big East commissioner need not worry what his or her legacy will be. It is brutally simple.

John Marinatto’s successor will be sanctified for saving the league by landing a lucrative TV deal this fall, or vilified for being on the watch when the league self-destructed.

As one potential candidate told The Post, “This job stinks of opportunity.’’

Sources told The Post, Marinatto resigned yesterday under pressure from school presidents, who lost faith in him last year after Pittsburgh and Syracuse opted to bolt for the ACC and West Virginia left for the Big 12.

Marinatto, who became the league’s third commissioner in July 2009, walked into a difficult situation. The FBS-level football schools were itching for expansion while the more basketball-centric schools were opposed.

After losing Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia, Marinatto rallied by adding Boise State, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, Navy, San Diego State, SMU and Temple. But now that college football is on the brink of a playoff system, Boise and San Diego State could withdraw, meaning Marinatto’s claim — that he had created the first “national conference,” is no longer legit.

The next commissioner must be the polar opposite of Marinatto, whose close-to-the-vest style was a stark contrast to the style of the league’s founding commissioner, Dave Gavitt, and his successor, Mike Tranghese. He or she also must be a deal maker.

The Big East and ESPN can begin renegotiating in September. If the two can’t reach an agreement on broadcast rights, the Big East could become a free agent, shopping itself to the highest bidder. It’s likely that although one network — Comcast is considered the strongest candidate — would get the lion’s share, other networks, including ESPN, FOX and CBS-Turner, could get pieces as well.

Several sources told The Post the league, which hired a search firm, will consider two candidates from within — Nick Carparelli Jr. and Tom Odjakjian.

Carparelli Jr., the senior associate commissioner for football and marketing, is as good as it gets in understanding the unique needs of the conference and its members.

Odjakjian, the associate commissioner for television and men’s basketball scheduling, is as brilliant a mind as there is grasping the complexities of today’s TV world and its deals.

There are some viable outside candidates as well.

Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti, who helped create CSTV and was a strong candidate the last time the job opened, is well-versed in his chair as an AD and knows the TV side.

Greg Shaheen, the former senior vice president of the NCAA who oversaw the 11-year, $6 billion deal signed with CBS-Turner and managed the NCAA Tournament, is an intriguing candidate.

Mark Womack, the executive associate commissioner of the SEC and Kevin Weiberg, the deputy of the commissioner of the Pac 12, also have the expertise to lead the Big East.

Whoever gets the job will have to work fast with the TV negotiating windows looming. Joseph Bailey III, a former CEO of the Miami Dolphins, was named interim commissioner.