Pac 12 names WCC’s Jamie Zaninovich as deputy commissioner

The Pac 12 made a significant internal move Thursday in announcing it has hired West Coast Conference commissioner Jamie Zaninovich to become its deputy commissioner and CEO.

Zaninovich will replace Kevin Weiberg, who has been Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott’s point man for the last four years. Weiberg, who will step down in July, is a former Big 12 commissioner who left that position to help the Big Ten start its network.

Zaninovich, a Stanford graduate, is in his seventh year as WCC commissioner and also is a member of the NCAA tournament selection committee, which is convening in Indianapolis this week to choose this year’s 68-team field.

“Jamie brings invaluable experience leading the WCC and has established himself as one of the influential national voices in our industry,” Scott said.

Weiberg was instrumental in helping Scott launch the Pac 12 Network. The conference said in a statement Weiberg would relocate to his home in Kansas but continue to work part time on a variety of projects.

“The Pac 12 has been unbelievably fortunate to have Kevin’s leadership and counsel over the last four years,” Scott said. “He has been instrumental in all our accomplishments and has been a tremendous partner to our universities.”