Big East announces hiring of Tom Jernstedt as advisor, FOX Sports unveils Big East broadcasters

As we move closer to the start of the season, the details of the new Big East are beginning to take shape.  FOX Sports 1 conducted its first ever successful Big East Tip-Off Party on Friday, and there's now nothing left between offseason anticipation and basketball.

On Monday, two important announcements were made by the Big East and FOX Sports respectively which will have significant impacts on the league.

Big East hires former NCAA executive Tom Jernstedt

Jernstedt will come aboard as a senior advisor to the league, notably to commissioner Val Ackerman.  After spending nearly four decades with the NCAA in a variety of roles, Jernstedt will assist the Big East with many men's and women's basketball matters, according to an official release.

"I can think of no one more qualified than Tom Jernstedt to assist the Big East as we set out to solidify as one of the premier college basketball conferences in the country," Ackerman said.  "His stature, knowledge, relationships, professionalism and unqualified passion for the game will be of tremendous value to the Big East as we look to make our mark in our first season as a reconstituted league and build our long-term basketball and conference development plan."

Jernstedt is best known in the NCAA circles for his work in developing the annual NCAA Tournament from the 25-team tournament of the 1970's into the unmatched display of the sport it has become.

With the Big East, Jernstedt is expected to work closely with the league's coaches and administrators with long-term strategic plans including scheduling, post-season play and perhaps even a potential conference expansion down the road.

FOX Sports unveils game announcers for Big East play

Much anticipation has been building as to who will complement Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery in the FOX Sports broadcasting duties of Big East play this season.  The network has announced the names of who will be calling games this winter, many of whom Big East fans are quite familiar.

Notable additions to the FOX broadcasts will be former Maryland head coach Gary Williams, St. John's alum Tarik Turner, former UConn star Donny Marshall and familiar metro-area commentator Jim Spanarkel.

A full list of talent who will be heard calling Big East games on FOX Sports this season includes:

The network also earlier announced the addition of Austin Croshere to the studio.  FOX Sports 1 will carry more than 100 Big East games this season, including the conference's annual tournament from Madison Square Garden in mid-March.

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