Tim Pernetti of Oakland, former vice president of programming for College Sports Television at ABC, will be assuming the mantle of athletic director at Rutgers University come April 1st.
Mr. Pernetti’s background in broadcasting may give him an edge athletic directors in other schools lack. High profile coaches often develop close relationships with media sources, and this can put administrators at a distinct disadvantage. While some may not consider Tim’s background in broadcasting as a valid qualifying factor, in the industry of college sports it’s a realistic advantage. College sports bring in significant revenue to both their school and their sports programs, and knowing the terrain on where these revenues come from could put him at the head of the pack. Knowing the big media players can help keep a handle on coaches and players whose fondness for attention can distract from the university’s overall game plan.
School administrators may also have been looking for someone a bit more savvy after the less than dignified exit of Bob Mulcahy. The style of the somewhat aggressive Mulcahy drew the attention of a school auditor and The Star-Ledger into what can best be described as some old-school accounting principles. Pernetti’s background certainly makes him conscious of all the sand traps littering college sports such as payoffs, gambling, and under the table incentives which have plagued other schools.
The new digs in Rutgers will definitely bring some lifestyle changes. Tim Pernetti’s new position as Atheltic Director of Rutger’s University will give him access to some great training facilities, but will his heavier responsibilities spread to his torso. The former vice president of content for CBS College Sports Network and color analyst on the Rutgers Radio Network Saturdays had a good thing, so only time will tell if his new position weighs him down in ways common to a middle-aged father of three.
Recently, his wife and Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano provided enough evidence on the benefits of yoga to intrigue the former college athlete. As he told the WSJ in September, “”I’ve always done high-intensity, high-impact weight training and realized as I get older that I need to do more than throw weights around.” It’s foreseeable that this aspect of his health regimen might expand with the new position. The bland title of Athletic Director does little to describe a position which, especially in New Jersey, combines business, education and politics with only religion left out of the complicated fray; and, a steady demeanor is usually a valuable asset.
Before assuming a premier position with Rutgers, Tim previously enjoyed the best of Oakland, NJ and The Big Apple while working in Manhattan. Beating the morning rush hours traffic, Tim could get to the Chelsea Piers to get in an hour’s work out and, in warmer weather, a jog along the Hudson River. As anyone who has lived in NYC knows, the city is best before everyone else wakes up. His training program for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays focused on what most men his age care about, keeping a good physique and a healthy heart.
Tim’s Saturday workouts included sprints, exercise, and drills he learned playing college ball. He has also incorporated exercises more conducive to the local high school field than that of NYC’s West Side where he might be perceived as either dangerous or unstable. Running with high knees, striding across the field and doing box jumps might garner unwanted attention in a more urban setting.
Tim Pernetti’s exercise regimen might be key to his success as anyone in NJ’s public eye needs to think fast, be flexible, take a punch and undoubtedly throw one when needed.