NLL Insider

The National Lacrosse League has announced that league Commissioner, Jim Jennings, has resigned from his role with the NLL and will be replaced by Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, George Daniel, in an interim role during the 2009 season.

It is unclear at this stage why Jennings has decided to resign from the position he’s served in since September of 2000, but sources close to the situation have confirmed with NLL Insider that the decision has been weeks in the making and likely would have been dictated by the NLL’s Board of Governors as well.

Rumours of Jennings’ impending resignation sprouted in various circles not long after the Chicago Shamrox unexpectedly closed up shop weeks before the start of the 2009 regular season.

Jennings took over the commissioner post from Jim Livsey shortly after the 2000 Champion’s Cup final between the Toronto Rock and Rochester Knighthawks, after Livsey left the league head office to pursue an ownership opportunity through the Columbus Landsharks.

Previous to his eight year stint with the NLL, Jennings had served in a marketing related role with the famed New York Cosmos soccer team and also acted in both managerial and ownership positions in such leagues as the United States Basketball League and Continental Basketball Association.

Jennings was the third commissioner the NLL has seen, dating back to their days as both the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and Major Indoor Lacrosse League. Previous to Jennings and Livsey, the league was run by G. Darrell Russell, a former Baltimore based attorney and current District Court Judge, who was also a former player and coach in Maryland.

In the league’s press release sent out earlier this afternoon, Jennings is quoted as saying, “I have enjoyed the last eight years. I feel that I have accomplished all the goals I set out to do at the NLL. I want to spend some time with my family before pursuing other opportunities and taking on the next challenge.”

During his appointment eight years ago, one of Jenning’s main mandates was to ensure the NLL would become North America’s fifth major recognized pro sports league, behind of course the NFL, NBA, MLB and the NHL.

As stated in the NLL’s release, the league enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth, including expansion to western markets, an increase in franchise values from $250,000 to $5.6 million and the broadcast of the NLL All-Star and Championship games on network television, during Jennings’ tenure.

The NLL has appeared nationally on such stations and networks as CNNSI, Versus and most notably, NBC, under Jennings’ management.

Like Jennings, new Interim Commissioner Daniel brought with him several years of managerial experience through various American basketball leagues before joining the NLL. Daniel spent time in the International Basketball Association and Atlantic Basketball Association prior to his career with the NLL.

Daniel was also appointed the New York Titans’ President during their expansion season in 2007, taking a one year hiatus from his role at the league’s head office.

“2009 promises to be a great season, with competitive teams, innovative packages for our sponsors, strong advance ticket sales and an ever-improving fan experience,” said Daniel via the league’s release. “There’s nothing like professional indoor lacrosse and I look forward to helping to introduce the sport to thousands of new fans this season.”

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