By DAN KARELL
Four months after making their first hire, New York City FC has officially announced the second hiring in club history.
Former Rutgers University Athletics Director Tim Pernetti has been confirmed as the club’s Chief Business Officer, and he’ll be overseeing all business operations for the team, which is set to begin in the Spring of 2015. Pernetti’s appointment follows the club’s hiring of former U.S. Men’s National Team and Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna to be the team’s Director of Football.
“I feel truly privileged to have been appointed to this position and to play a key role in building this club from its infancy,” Pernetti said in a statement on the club’s website. “I relish the opportunity to be part of a global organisation, and also to use my experience to create a first class Club for New Yorkers and one in which they will always have a voice.
This is a tremendously exciting time for all involved and interested in soccer in New York and beyond.”
After playing college football at Rutgers, Pernetti returned to the school in 2009 to become it’s Athletics Director, where he served until 2013, when he resigned amid controversy after men’s basketball head coach Mike Rice was caught on camera physically and verbally attacking his players. Originally, Pernetti suspended Rice for three games, as well as fining him and forcing him to go through anger management courses, but once the video went public and the University’s President found out, Pernetti was forced to resign.
Prior to his stint at Rutgers, Pernetti was a television network executive, working with CBS Television, CSTV, and ABC Sports. During his time at Rutgers, Pernetti was also influential in joining the Big Ten Conference, a huge pay boost to the athletics department thanks to the success of the Big Ten Network.
Pernetti is set to begin his job effective immediately, and will report directly to Manchester City CEO, Ferran Soriano.
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What do you think of this hiring? Do you see NYCFC landing a huge TV deal because of the hire? Do you believe Pernetti’s past is an issue?
Share your thoughts below.
That “great guy” is getting $1.2 million in PUBLIC money from Rutgers/New Jersey to do absolutely nothing after getting fired for incompetence. He may be a “great guy” (whatever the h3ll that means) but anyone who can’t recognize that a video of the basketball coach physically abusing his players (given to Pernitti by a former coach whom the program had fired and who was suing the University!) is going to headline SportsCenter isn’t a particularly bright guy.
He actually could not get rid of the guy because of the actions of the President and school policy. He gave him as much punishment as he could in his position.
Extremely solid hire. They’re buying his contact into the tv network offices and major donor pockets.
Why would a team owned by Sheikh Mansour and the New York Yankees need “major donor pockets?”
Solid hire. As a Rutgers student, Tim is a great guy and very likable person. He was great for the school. Shame it gets overshadowed with the Rice controversy.
Why do they need a former soccer player? He’s the Business Mgr; not the GM.
Tim is a great guy who was given a bum rap… Hope he does great in this new gig!
they couldnt at least get a former soccer player
which former soccer players have the business acumen that pernetti brings?….or any at all….
Yeah, because all former soccer players are dumb uneducated jocks, but former football players, they are so smart and have great business acumen.