Good for Notre Dame, too, as Phillips, who served as an associate for Kevin White at Notre Dame in 2000-04 and has bee at Northwestern since 2008, also is familiar with former University provost Nathan Hatch and current school president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
“Jim is one of the most talented athletic administrators in the country and uniquely qualified to successfully and seamlessly take over the helm of the ACC,” says ACC Board Chair Kent Syverud (Syracuse University). “Over the course of nearly 13 years, Jim has elevated and cemented Northwestern’s position as an outstanding Power 5 athletics program. Northwestern’s ascension in the world of intercollegiate athletics is a testament to Jim’s vision, leadership and foundational dedication to the success of student-athletes. The ACC is fortunate to have someone of Jim’s caliber and integrity lead the conference at this pivotal moment in intercollegiate athletics.”
Phillips, who assumes the role of ACC Commissioner in February 2021, was named Northwestern's 21st director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation in April 2008.
Phillips is known as one of the leading voices across the college sports landscape. He was elected as the inaugural chair of the NCAA Division I Council in February 2015 and served as the first-ever sitting athletic director on the NCAA Board of Directors and Board of Governors. In March of 2017, he was appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, a group he is slated to chair in 2021-22.
Before arriving at Northwestern, Phillips held several leadership positions in major athletics programs, including director of athletics at Northern Illinois University (NIU) from 2004-2008. Prior to NIU, Phillips served as associate director of athletics, then senior associate director of athletics for external affairs at the University of Notre Dame from 2000-2004.
Phillips earned a Ph.D. in education administration from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in education from Arizona State University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.
“Jim is one of the most talented athletic administrators in the country and uniquely qualified to successfully and seamlessly take over the helm of the ACC,” says ACC Board Chair Kent Syverud (Syracuse University). “Over the course of nearly 13 years, Jim has elevated and cemented Northwestern’s position as an outstanding Power 5 athletics program. Northwestern’s ascension in the world of intercollegiate athletics is a testament to Jim’s vision, leadership and foundational dedication to the success of student-athletes. The ACC is fortunate to have someone of Jim’s caliber and integrity lead the conference at this pivotal moment in intercollegiate athletics.”
Phillips, who assumes the role of ACC Commissioner in February 2021, was named Northwestern's 21st director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation in April 2008.
Phillips is known as one of the leading voices across the college sports landscape. He was elected as the inaugural chair of the NCAA Division I Council in February 2015 and served as the first-ever sitting athletic director on the NCAA Board of Directors and Board of Governors. In March of 2017, he was appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, a group he is slated to chair in 2021-22.
Before arriving at Northwestern, Phillips held several leadership positions in major athletics programs, including director of athletics at Northern Illinois University (NIU) from 2004-2008. Prior to NIU, Phillips served as associate director of athletics, then senior associate director of athletics for external affairs at the University of Notre Dame from 2000-2004.
Phillips earned a Ph.D. in education administration from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in education from Arizona State University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.
