Bridgewater, NJ -- The NEC has named Dan Lynch as Commissioner, effective immediately, it was announced today by FDU’s Mike Avaltroni, Chair of the NEC Council of Presidents.

“We are thrilled to have Dan Lynch joining the NEC as our new Commissioner," said Avaltroni. "His wealth of experience, network of relationships and understanding of the Northeast market provide us with a tremendously exciting path forward for our conference. We are fully confident that he will help bring the NEC to new heights and showcase the great stories of our schools, teams and athletes for years to come.”

Lynch brings more than three decades of experience as a sports business executive, with leadership roles spanning the New York/New Jersey 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee, New York Giants, New Jersey Nets and NASCAR. He has built a proven track record of success across revenue generation, corporate partnerships, media negotiations and brand development, and has extensive experience collaborating with public officials, governing bodies and business leaders.

Lynch becomes the fifth full-time Commissioner in NEC history. He succeeds Noreen Morris, who stepped down this summer after 16 years leading the conference.

“I’m truly honored and excited to work with our Council, conference staff, athletics directors, coaches and student-athletes as we help shape the next chapter of the NEC,” said Lynch. “With great member schools, an incredible footprint in the top media markets, and passionate fans and alumni, the future is indeed very bright for the NEC! I am humbled to build upon the legacy left by Noreen Morris, and I am honored to succeed her as Commissioner.”

Lynch most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer of the New York/New Jersey 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee. Joining the organization in June 2023, he helped build the committee’s commercial operations and supported the effort that secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final for the region. In that role, Lynch developed the committee’s initial commercial strategy and business plan, working with its Board of Directors and partners across FIFA, the New Jersey Governor’s Office, New York City Hall and the regional business community. New York/New Jersey led all 16 World Cup host committees in revenue generation and was the only one to secure twenty Host City Supporters.

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“My goal is to help build a conference our members are proud to belong to and other institutions are excited to join. We need to give our schools reasons to think bigger about their future in the NEC and pursue the opportunities that can make those ambitions possible.”

Dan LynchNEC Commissioner

Prior to joining the Host Committee, Lynch spent 20 years with the New York Giants across two tours, including 16 years leading sponsorship and media sales and helping drive significant growth in the organization’s corporate partnerships business. He also negotiated and managed media partnerships with WFAN, Fox, NBC, ESPN, Univision and MSG, and was a member of the sales team responsible for stadium and training facility naming rights.

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“Opportunity Lives Here is a message we’ll be taking into every conversation about the NEC. Whether we’re speaking with a prospective member, a sponsor or a potential partner, we’ll be exploring what we can accomplish together and taking the next steps to make it happen.”

Dan LynchNEC Commissioner

From 2004 to 2007, Lynch served as Vice President of Media Sales & Broadcasting for the New Jersey Nets, overseeing the team’s in-house media strategy, broadcast operations and relationships with WFAN and the YES Network. Lynch previously served as NASCAR’s first Director of Multimedia Marketing from 2001 to 2004. He worked with national media partners and league sponsors, helped lead the organization’s Drive for Diversity initiative and was part of the sales and marketing team that secured Nextel as title sponsor of its premier racing series.

Earlier in his career, Lynch held sales leadership positions with WFAN and WABC. His work in sports radio included sponsorship sales for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall University basketball. He began his sports marketing career with the New Jersey Nets in 1987.

Lynch serves as a Board Member for the Make a Wish Foundation of NJ. He previously served on a Montclair State University Athletic Advisory Board, and with Choose New Jersey, a nonprofit economic development organization.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Northeastern University.