Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
The Big East needs a new commissioner to replace Mike Tranghese, who is retiring next July. One of the most talked-about potential candidates says he's not interested in the job.
Louisville's Tom Jurich, who was named athletic director of the year in 2007 by Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal, said Wednesday that various rumors and speculation linking him to the commissioner post are untrue.
"My interest is here," Jurich said of Louisville. "I looked forward to finishing what we've started here."
Jurich wants to make sure the Cardinals football program gets back on track under second-year head coach Steve Kragthorpe, and he is overseeing an expansion to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Construction bids on that project are due back next week, and school officials hope to break ground at the end of this season. The stadium would grow from a capacity of 42,000 to about 56,000 in time for the start of the 2010 season.
Jurich has another reason to stay put at Louisville. His twin daughters, Haley and Lacey, have committed to play field hockey for the Cardinals next year.
"Somebody has to keep an eye on them," Jurich joked.
A six-person search committee, chaired by Georgetown president John DeGioia and Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenberg, has been tasked with finding Tranghese's replacement. If the Big East chooses to hire internally, senior associate commissioner John Marinatto and associate commissioners Nick Carparelli Jr. and Dan Gavitt would appear to be the leading candidates.
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
