ROSEMONT, Ill. -- When Kevin Warren stepped to the podium Tuesday, he understood the magnitude of the moment.
Only five men before him had served as commissioner of the Big Ten Conference since the league's founding in 1896, and no African-American had ever led a major college athletic conference before.
Warren, who has served as chief operating officer for the Minnesota Vikings, will officially take over the role on Sept. 16, replacing Jim Delany, who will remain with the Big Ten in a transition period until Jan. 1, 2020.
Delany, who announced in March he would step down, has served as Big Ten commissioner since 1989.