CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio Receives Five-Year Contract Extension
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (June 27, 2024) – Coastal Athletic Association Commissioner Joe D’Antonio has received a five-year contract extension that will keep him in his position through at least June 30, 2029.
“Joe has done an outstanding job of guiding the CAA through a challenging period in collegiate athletics,” said College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu, chair of the CAA Board of Directors. “His success in navigating a global pandemic, fortifying the conference’s membership and enhancing the league’s broadcast and streaming platforms has allowed the CAA to thrive and maintain its excellence both athletically and academically. We look forward to his continued leadership.”
D’Antonio recently completed his eighth year as Commissioner of the CAA and is only the second person to serve in the role during the league’s 39-year history. The contract extension was approved by the conference’s presidents and chancellors.
“I am extremely humbled and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue to serve the CAA and its member institutions,” said D’Antonio. “Collectively, and in collaboration with the CAA Board of Directors, Athletic Directors, SWAs and a dedicated Conference staff, we have worked diligently to put the Conference in a position to meet the challenges of an ever-changing NCAA Division I landscape. I am excited for the opportunity to continue to grow the sustainable and competitive model we have created in the CAA, while also continuing to provide our student-athletes with exceptional athletic and academic experiences.”
D'Antonio has worked closely with the league’s presidents and athletic administrators to achieve a high level of success athletically within the educational framework of each institution. On July 1, 2022, the conference underwent a significant expansion with the addition of Hampton University, Monmouth University, North Carolina A&T State University and Stony Brook University. Campbell University joined the CAA last July, bringing the CAA to 14 members for the first time in its history.
Under D’Antonio’s leadership, the CAA entered a four-year, seven-figure annual partnership with FloSports to provide live and on-demand coverage for the league’s 24 sports. More than 1,500 live events were broadcast on FloSports during the 2023-24 season. The CAA also expanded its relationship with CBS Sports Network that resulted in 24 regular-season men’s basketball games being televised last season in addition to the semifinals and finals of the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship. CBS Sports Network also carried the finals of the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship for the second year in a row.
Last July, the conference changed its name to the Coastal Athletic Association, reflecting the conference’s expansion along the Atlantic coast and reaffirming each institution’s commitment to unity and excellence.
During his tenure, three conference teams have captured national championships, and the league has achieved success in a number of sports. D’Antonio is among the most visible commissioners in the nation and enjoys interacting with student-athletes, coaches and fans on campus. His “Practice With The Commissioner” initiative, in which he participates in on-campus workouts with CAA championship teams, has been extremely popular.
CAA institutions have excelled in the classroom as well, ranking sixth among the nation’s 32 Division I conferences in the latest Academic Progress Rate report for the 2022-23 academic year. The CAA ranked third nationally among women’s basketball programs and fourth in men’s basketball and football.
D’Antonio came to the CAA from the BIG EAST Conference, where he served as the Senior Associate Commissioner for Administration and NCAA Relations. He brought a wide range of experience and accomplishments, including more than a decade of work at the BIG EAST and eight years at Providence College, while also earning appointments to some of the NCAA’s most prestigious committees.
D'Antonio and his wife, Karen, have two children, Joseph III and Olivia.