Report: Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany to retire in 2020

Delany later refused to confirm he would retire when his contract expires in 2020.

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Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany plans to retire in 2020, reports Nicole Auerbach of USA Today.

However, in a text to Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune, Delany refused to confirm that he would retire in 2020, when his contract expires. 

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In text to Trib, Delany declines to confirm he'll step down when contract expires in 2020:"Work still challenging and fun - lots of energy."

— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) July 26, 2016

Delany has been at the helm of the Big Ten since 1989. The conference added Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers in his time with the conference. He has overseen three college football national championships and two men's basketball national champions by Big Ten teams. Delany also gets credit as being one of the biggest proponents in the creation of the BCS.

• Michigan, Harbaugh appear ready to compete for title

Delany told reporters at Big Ten Media Days that he does not anticipate being the commissioner when the Big Ten's new television deal with Fox Sports and ESPN expires in six years. The deal is reportedly worth $2.64 billion. Dennis Dodd of CBS initially reported that Delany planned to step down before 2022.