Basketball

REPORT: Big 12 targeting Roc Nation COO Brett Yormark as next commissioner

The Big 12 has reportedly found its next commissioner.

The league has targeted Roc Nation COO Brett Yormark to be the conference’s next commissioner, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. Yormark will replace longtime commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who announced his retirement from college athletics earlier this year.

Yormark is certainly what would be considered an outside the box hire after he’s spent his last three years with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, first as co-CEO with his twin brother Michael. He’s worked extensively with artists, athletes, leagues and brands, overseeing sponsorship, licensing, content partnership and brand strategy.

All of that experience will be crucial at a time when college athletics are going through extensive change largely driven by the athlete empowerment opened up by NIL opportunities.

Yormark will be walking into an interesting situation to navigate with Oklahoma and Texas set to leave the league in the next several years. Finalizing that departure, including negotiating exit fees, will be one of Yormark’s first priorities upon taking the position.

He’ll also have to help the league onboard four new schools with Houston, BYU, Cincinnati and Central Florida all set to join the league next July. The Big 12’s next media rights negotiation is also fast approaching with the current deals set to expire in 2025.

Stay tuned to Cyclone Fanatic for more on this story.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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