Professional Development Studies News

February 26, 2009

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Former Rutgers football player Tim Pernetti, executive vice president of CBS College Sports Network and familiar to Rutgers fans for his radio commentary, was named director of intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, at today’s meeting of the Rutgers Board of Governors. The appointment, following a national search, is effective April 1

Pernetti is an alumnus of two programs at the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass media in 1993, and graduated in 1995 from the Master of Communication and Information Studies program.

Pernetti will oversee 24 men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams in New Brunswick, a larger number than fielded at most of the university’s peer institutions. The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has 212 employees and an annual budget of approximately $56 million, roughly 3 percent of the university’s total $1.8 billion budget.

“We are delighted that Tim Pernetti is returning to the Rutgers community and is ready to work with our coaches and athletics and academic support staffs to further the tradition of excellence established by our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom,” said Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick.

“Rutgers Athletics is a tremendous source of pride and passion for the people of New Jersey. I have shared that pride and passion for Rutgers throughout my life,” Pernetti said. “I look forward to working with the entire Rutgers community to continue the growth of Rutgers Athletics and to create the ideal environment for our student-athletes to succeed both academically and athletically.”

A resident of Oakland, N.J., Pernetti was a tight end on the Rutgers football team from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 2003, Pernetti worked in various programming positions at ABC Sports and ABC Enhanced TV. In 2003, he became vice president of programming for College Sports Television, the first national television network devoted entirely to collegiate athletics. College Sports Television became CSTV Networks Inc. in 2004, and was purchased by CBS in 2006. Pernetti has been executive vice president at CBS College Sports Network since the acquisition.

Pernetti has been color commentator for the Rutgers Football Radio Network for eight seasons and is the host of the Greg Schiano Show on WCTC 1450-AM and WOR 710-AM.

Pernetti, who will report directly to President McCormick, will receive an annual base salary of $410,000, an annual performance bonus of up to $50,000 and an annual automobile stipend of $12,000.