The former Big East commissioner John Marinatto has died. His death Saturday was announced by Providence College, his alma mater and the school where he began a long career in college sports. No cause was given. Marinatto was commissioner during a tumultuous period of conference realignment across college sports. At Providence, Marinatto was mentored by future Big East Conference commissioners Dave Gavitt and Mike Tranghese. He replaced Tranghese as the Big East’s third commissioner in 2009. Not long after, the conference began to splinter. He resigned in 2012. John Marinatto was 64 years old.
