Joe D’Antonio is in his 10th year as commissioner of the Coastal Athletic Association, becoming just the second person to serve in that role in the conference’s 40-year history. He recently received a five-year contract extension that will keep him in his position through at least June 30, 2029.
He has worked closely with the league’s presidents and athletic administrators to achieve a high level of success athletically within the educational framework of each institution. On July 1, 2022, the conference underwent a significant expansion with the addition of Hampton University, Monmouth University, North Carolina A&T State University and Stony Brook University. Campbell University joined the CAA on July 1, 2023, bringing the CAA to 14 members for the first time in its history.
During his tenure, three conference teams have captured national championships and the league has achieved success in a number of sports. D’Antonio is among the most visible commissioners in the nation and enjoys interacting with student-athletes, coaches and fans on campus. His “Practice With The Commissioner” initiative, in which he participates in on-campus workouts with each CAA championship team, has been extremely popular.
Under D’Antonio’s leadership, the CAA entered a four-year, seven-figure annual partnership with FloSports to provide live and on-demand coverage for the league’s 24 sports. More than 1,500 live events will be broadcast on FloSports this year. The CAA also expanded its relationship with CBS Sports Network that resulted in 24 regular-season men’s basketball games being televised during the 2024-25 season in addition to the semifinals and finals of the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship. CBS Sports Network will also carry the finals of the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship for the fourth year in a row.
D’Antonio came to the CAA from the BIG EAST Conference, where he served as the Senior Associate Commissioner for Administration and NCAA Relations. He brought a wide range of experience and accomplishments, including more than a decade of work at the BIG EAST and eight years at Providence College, while also earning appointments to some of the NCAA’s most prestigious committees.
In his role as Senior Associate Commissioner at the BIG EAST, he was charged with the oversight of the Conference’s internal operations and its interaction with the NCAA. His duties included overseeing the Conference’s compliance department and the Olympic sport championships department. He also served as liaison to the BIG EAST athletics directors and organized Conference-wide meetings.
D’Antonio served as a member of the NCAA Division I Council Two-Year Governance Structure Review Ad Hoc Working Group, which was charged with considering refinements and enhancements to the new NCAA governance structure and legislative process. He also was a member of the NCAA Division I Enforcement and Infractions Review Group.
In addition, D’Antonio was a member of the NCAA Division I Legislative Council from 2008-2015 and was the group’s chairperson for two years (2008-2010). He was the chair of the CCACA (Conference Commissioners Association of Compliance Administrators) from 2007-16, and served as a member of the NCAA Division I Legislative Committee, which is one of seven subgroups of the NCAA Division I Council.
D'Antonio began his career at the BIG EAST in 2005 as the Associate Commissioner for Governance and Compliance and was promoted to Senior Associate Commissioner for Governance and Compliance in 2009. During that time, he was involved in all aspects of the conference office, including helping to manage and oversee the conference’s FBS football program as well as its nationally recognized men’s and women’s basketball teams.
From 1997-2005, D’Antonio worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Administration at Providence College. He served as the athletic department liaison with the financial aid and admissions offices and was a sport administrator for women’s softball and men’s ice hockey.
A 1993 graduate of the New England School of Law in Boston where he earned Dean’s List honors, D’Antonio was admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Bar in 1994 and worked in private practice until 1997. An Abington, Massachusetts native, D’Antonio received his undergraduate degree from Providence College in 1990.
He and his wife, Karen, have two children, Joseph III (26) and Olivia (23).