When former Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced his step back from the position back in April, most eyes turned to Baylor’s own Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades as Bowlsby’s successor. Rhoades signed a 10-year contract in Waco shortly after and the Big 12’s search for its next leader continued. Today, the conference named its new Commissioner as former Roc Nation Chief Operating Officer and co-CEO of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Unified Brett Yormark. Yormark worked in sales for the New Jersey Nets from 1988 before ultimately becoming the team’s CEO. He was the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center from 2005-2019 prior to his move to the music industry. Before his stints with the Nets, Yormark was the Vice President of Corporate Sponsorships for NASCAR where he led a $750 million partnership with Nextel Communications.
In the conference’s press release today, Yormark said, “Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do. I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”
Texas Tech University and Chair of the Big 12 Conference’s Board of Directors Lawrence Schovanec commented, “In Brett Yormark, we have chosen a highly adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic times. The landscape of college athletics is evolving to look more like the world Brett has been leading. He’s authentic and genuine in the way he builds relationships and partnerships, and he works relentlessly to deliver impact. As Brett immerses himself in college sports and connects with all our stakeholders, he will bring a fresh approach and dynamic energy to the Big 12 as we engage a new generation of student-athletes and fans. I want to thank my fellow board members and our partners at TurnkeyZRG. Turnkey is more than just a search firm; they orchestrated a flawless strategy and process, delivering strong interest and strong candidates from college and professional sports, as well as the media and entertainment industries.”
