Charlotte, North Carolina – Jim Phillips had quite a busy week. As he stepped into his fifth year as commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, he faced the quickly evolving world of college sports. The introduction of NIL changed how recruitment works, transfer portals reshaped team rosters, and revenue generated from soccer media rights has stirred some restlessness and uncertainty in the environment.
Despite these challenges, the ACC thrived under Phillips’ leadership. The upcoming 2024-25 season marks the first year that Cal, Stanford, and SMU will be full members, with SMU even making it to the college football playoffs. Additionally, the ACC resolved a lawsuit with Clemson, which has helped secure the league’s immediate future.
During his time as commissioner, the ACC has also seen impressive success in various women’s sports. For example, in the 2024-25 season, the conference clinched national titles in women’s soccer and lacrosse, the latter won by North Carolina. The women’s soccer Final Four featured teams like Tar Heels, Duke, Stanford, and Wake Forest. In volleyball, ACC teams Louisville and Pitt reached the Final Four, and in women’s basketball, eight teams from the conference participated in the NCAA tournament, with four being top 16 seeds. Additionally, nine teams earned NCAA Softball Tournament bids.
In his recent meeting, Phillips managed to navigate discussions around women’s sports amidst media buzz, especially surrounding new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick.
What do you think the House settlement, which leads to increased scholarships and altered roster sizes, will mean for women’s sports? Are you concerned about it?
Phillips: “I’m really excited about it. This agreement between the plaintiffs and defendants allows for more scholarships for student-athletes. It raises those caps, which means more opportunities and funding for our student-athletes in Olympic sports. Our schools have a long history of supporting diverse programs at a high level.”
With the financial benefits of soccer and men’s basketball, have there been discussions about minimum spending for women’s basketball revenue sharing to keep the ACC competitive?
Phillips: “We’re not mandating investment amounts; however, there’s a unified effort among presidents, athletic directors, and senior female administrators to support women’s basketball. With our recent revenue-sharing agreement, we’d like to continue investing in women’s sports.”
There’s an incentive now to invest in women’s basketball, especially given the ACC’s recent successes.
Phillips: “Absolutely, you nailed it.”
As women’s basketball viewership rises, do you think there are coaches regretting their TV deals with ESPN? Could we see women’s basketball getting its own TV agreement?
Phillips: “The NCAA has a strong president, Charlie Baker, who negotiated a significant deal, but I don’t have all the figures. It’s clear the latest deal is far better than before. However, there’s still work to be done to refine the arrangement.”
Women’s basketball tournaments have followed a dual region format for years. Some prominent coaches have voiced their concerns about it. What’s your take on this structure?
Phillips: “As someone who cares about the game, I understand the opinions around the format. While I see their point, it’s important that we keep evaluating our options as the game continues to grow. Balancing financial and site considerations will be key for progress.”
ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament is heading to Metro Atlanta this season, with Charlotte hosting in 2027. Do you envision more varied hosting sites like in men’s tournaments?
Phillips: “While I wouldn’t say we’re at that stage yet, I’m curious to see how the Atlanta area will respond to this change. I’m looking forward to trying something new.”
Two other sports—volleyball and softball—are also gaining viewership. How can the ACC capitalize on this growth?
Phillips: “I’m genuinely proud of the support we’ve received from our leaders and the decisions made at the campus level to back these programs. We aim to allocate as much funding as possible. Both volleyball and softball programs, like those at Clemson and Duke, are building momentum and performing well in tournaments.”
The NCAA suggested introducing flag football as an emerging sport for women. Are there discussions within the ACC about adding it?
Phillips: “We’re exploring this. Initial conversations have occurred, but there’s nothing concrete yet. We’re currently focused on implementing the changes from the House settlement.”
