WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference (ECC) has named Jessica Grasso its new commissioner following an extensive national search. Grasso becomes the sixth commissioner in the history of the ECC.
Grasso succeeds Bob Dranoff, the longest-tenured commissioner of the ECC dating back to June 2008, who is stepping down effective June 30.
In his 16 years at the helm of the conference, Dranoff grew the ECC by adding five new member schools along with several associate members in a variety of sports. He successfully added championships in several sports and added new sport sponsorship in women’s bowling, men’s volleyball, and esports. Dranoff expanded conference exposure and relationships by upgrading the video streaming of championships, creating the ECC Hall of Fame, and partnering with organizations such as Team IMPACT and US Council of Athletes Health. The impact of these efforts enhanced the student-athlete experience, made athletic competition accessible to thousands of friends and families, and showcased the positive impact student-athletes have on colleges and communities.
Identified as an emerging leader in intercollegiate athletics, Grasso comes to the ECC after nine years with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as the Deputy Commissioner. In her role, she served as the CFO and was responsible for all financial matters, NCAA reporting, compliance and governance oversight, and internal operations of the MAAC, including supervision of all full-time employees and contractors. Additionally, her role included the designation of Senior Woman Administrator.
“I’d like to thank the East Coast Conference Council of Presidents and members of the search committee for welcoming me to this exceptional conference,” Grasso said. “I am eager to advance the ECC’s mission in promoting the complete individual to excel in academics, athletics, and personal development. The ECC is a conference comprised of institutions that are proactive in thought and committed to providing the best experience possible for its student-athletes. I look forward to representing and serving our administrators, coaches, and most importantly our student-athletes.”
In addition to overseeing the operations of the MAAC office and its championships, Grasso’s financial responsibilities spanned several external hosting events, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, NCAA Women’s Basketball Regionals, NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships, the MAAC/ASUN Dublin Challenge, and the Orlando Classic Invitational.
In June 2023, Grasso completed the Women Leaders in Sports Executive Institute, an advanced professional development program whose focus is preparing individuals to attain positions as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. Grasso has also participated in various NCAA and Women Leaders in Sports programming, including the President/Search Firm Roundtable (2022), NCAA Pathway Program (2021), TopConnectAD Leadership Symposium (2020), NCAA Achieving Communication Success Workshop (2017), NCAA Women’s Basketball Mock Selection Exercise (2017), Women Leaders Leadership Enhancement Institute (2016), NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum (2016), and the Women Leaders in Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement Leadership Development Program (2009).
“Jessica Grasso possesses the vision and values that will continue to elevate the East Coast Conference, and we are thrilled to welcome her as the ECC’s new Commissioner,” said Lorrie Clemo, Chair of the ECC Presidents’ Council and President of D’Youville University. “Her proven leadership and drive impressed the search committee and make her the perfect Commissioner to lead the ECC during a critical time in the national collegiate landscape.”
“I am incredibly thankful to the members of the search committee and the ECC member school presidents for their commitment to the search process,” added Clemo. “I am also thankful to Jill Willson at Double LL Consulting for her incredible professionalism and stewardship of the process. We extend our deepest thanks to Bob Dranoff for his outstanding leadership and dedication as Commissioner. His contributions to the growth and development of the ECC have been invaluable over his 16 years of service.”
Grasso is an active member of Women Leaders in Sports (WLS), having previously served on the WLS Education and Professional Committee, the Awards Committee, and Mentoring Program. Grasso is currently a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Committee, and previously served on the NCAA Division I Rowing Committee.
Prior to the MAAC, Grasso served as the Associate Athletics Director of Compliance and Internal Operations at American University, with previous stops at Providence College as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance/Student-Athlete Services and Saint Peter’s University as the Assistant Director of Athletics/Compliance Officer/Senior Woman Administrator.
Grasso is an alumna of ECC-member school Molloy University in Rockville Centre, New York, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business management and was also a member of the varsity basketball team. She completed a master’s degree in physical education with a concentration in sports management from Adelphi University in 2003. Grasso currently resides in Colonia, New Jersey, with her husband, Anthony, and daughter, Savanna.