CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Last week was quite eventful for Jim Phillips.
As he embarks on his fifth year as the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), he’s been confronted with the rapidly evolving world of college sports. The introduction of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has significantly altered recruiting, while the transfer portal has impacted roster management. Additionally, media rights deals for football have triggered conference realignments, causing some unrest and uncertainty.
Throughout Phillips’ tenure, the ACC has managed to navigate these challenges effectively. The 2024-25 season marked the league’s first year with Cal, Stanford, and SMU joining as full members, and the Mustangs even advanced to the College Football Playoff. Moreover, the ACC resolved lawsuits involving Clemson and Florida State, securing the league’s immediate future.
The ACC has also achieved remarkable success in women’s sports during Phillips’ time. In the 2024-25 season alone, the conference won national championships in women’s soccer and lacrosse, both secured by North Carolina. The Final Four in women’s soccer featured an ACC representation with the Tar Heels, Duke, Stanford, and Wake Forest. Additionally, Louisville and Pitt reached the Final Four in volleyball, and in women’s basketball, eight ACC teams participated in the NCAA Tournament, with four hosting opening weekend games as top-16 seeds. Furthermore, nine ACC teams received bids to the NCAA softball tournament, making it the second-highest allocation among conferences.
Phillips spoke to SB Nation about women’s sports, addressing his recent state-of-the-conference address and media buzz surrounding new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick.
How will the House Settlement affect women’s sports and any concerns surrounding it?
Phillips: “I’m very optimistic about this development. The agreement increases scholarships for student-athletes, which lifts the previous caps. This change will create more opportunities and funding for athletes across all sports. While the specifics around revenue sharing and NIL are still unfolding, our conference is committed to maintaining strong support for diverse programming. The ACC has historically championed women’s opportunities, so these adjustments should lead to positive outcomes.”
Regarding revenue sharing, is there talk about minimum spending for women’s basketball to ensure the ACC remains competitive?
Phillips: “So far, we haven’t mandated specific investment amounts, but we have seen a strong consensus among our leadership to back women’s basketball. Recently, we adopted a distribution model for revenue tied to success in both football and men’s basketball, but we also agreed to apply this model to women’s basketball as it generates revenue. This move reflects our commitment to supporting teams that invest in women’s sports.”
With the NCAA’s recent TV deal, there are voices expressing a desire for renegotiation. Do you believe women’s basketball deserves its own broadcast agreement?
Phillips: “The NCAA, under the leadership of Charlie Baker, negotiated a significantly improved deal. While I don’t have exact figures, I know they aimed to maximize value based on women’s basketball at that time. It’s common for organizations to wish they could have gotten more from such deals. While the current deal is in place, I believe there will be opportunities to reengage with ESPN as the sport continues to grow.”
Will the women’s basketball tournament adopt a rotation of host sites similar to the men’s tournament?
Phillips: “While it’s too early to commit to that approach fully, we are eager to gauge the response from different markets like Atlanta. Exploring new locations can help grow the sport and benefit our student-athletes, coaches, and schools.”
As interest in women’s volleyball and softball surges, how can the ACC harness this growth?
Phillips: “I’m proud of the strides our conference has made, largely due to decisions by our universities. We aim to provide the necessary funding to support these programs. Programs like those at Pitt, Louisville, Florida State, and Clemson have brought in exceptional talent and have excelled in NCAA competitions.”
Are discussions taking place within the ACC about adding women’s flag football as a sport?
Phillips: “We are observing developments closely. Although preliminary conversations have started, time has been limited due to the focus on the House Settlement and NIL implementations. We haven’t yet had the chance to thoroughly investigate the potential for women’s flag football.”
