The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing a deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league’s next commissioner, replacing the retiring John Swofford.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon. One of the people said Phillips has been offered a five-year contract.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the ACC’s negotiations.
The ACC did not immediately return a request for comment. Text messages to Phillips were not immediately returned.
Yahoo Sports first reported the ACC was expected to hire Phillips.
Phillips has been Northwestern’s AD since 2008, leading the athletic department through a period of success in competition and growth in facilities. He oversaw the funding of Northwestern's $270 million Walter Athletics Center and Ryan Fieldhouse indoor practice facility located on Lake Michigan’s shores.
He is also set to become chairman of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for the 2021-22 season.
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1of5Northwestern University Athletic Director Jim Phillips poses outside his home in Wilmette, Ill., in this Oct. 9, 2008, photo. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing a deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon. (John J. Kim/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)John J. Kim/APShow MoreShow Less2of5Jim Phillips poses at Ryan Field at Northwestern after being named the schools Athletic Director in Evanston, Ill., in this April 22, 2008, photo. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing an deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon. (Al Podgorski/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)APShow MoreShow Less3of5FILE - In this April 2, 2013, file photo, Northwestern University Athletic Director Jim Phillips smiles during a news conference in Evanston, Ill. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing an deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon.Charles Rex Arbogast/APShow MoreShow Less4of5Northwestern University Athletic Director Jim Phillips celebrates as the Northwestern women's basketball team beats Illinois 75-58 to win at least a share of the Big Ten Conference Championship at Welsh-Ryan Arena Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Evanston, Ill. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing an deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon.. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)John J. Kim/APShow MoreShow Less5of5Northwestern Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips speaks during an announcement of a football game to be played between Northwestern and Wisconsin at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The Atlantic Coast Conference is finalizing a deal to make Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips the league's next commissioner. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press they expected an agreement to be reached with Phillips and the conference soon. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)/Chicago Tribune via AP)Jose M. Osorio/APShow MoreShow Less
Phillips was a candidate to become Big Ten commissioner when the conference was searching for a replacement for Jim Delany last year, but ultimately the league went outside of college athletics and hired former NFL executive Kevin Warren.
The league announced Swofford’s planned retirement in June, though he was to continue in the job until a successor was named and to aid the transition.
The 72-year-old Swofford became commissioner in 1997 of a very different ACC, which had only nine members at the time and remained basketball-focused. Swofford eventually led the ACC through multiple waves of expansion to form a 15-team conference stretching along nearly the entire Eastern Seaboard and west into Kentucky and Indiana.
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AP College Basketball Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.
