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In a new age of college athletics, the Big 12 Conference is keeping up with the current climate by hiring Brett Yormark as the new commissioner. Yormark took the job after Bob Bowlsby stepped down in April.
On Wednesday morning, Yormark took the podium for the Big 12’s media day from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
When taking the podium, Yormark gave a statement about how the conference will operate.
“We will be bold and humble, aggressive and thoughtful, and innovative and creative, all in an effort to position the conference in a way that not only grows the Big 12 brand and business, but makes us a bit more contemporary,” Yormark said.
Being more “contemporary” in today’s collegiate sports climate fits hand in hand with what Yormark had to say regarding conference realignment.
“We are exploring all options, and we’re open for business,” Yormark said. I think it’s fair to say I’ve received a lot of phone calls, a lot of interest. People understand the direction of the Big 12, and we’re exploring those levels of interest.”
With USC and UCLA announcing their plans to move to the Big 10, there has been speculation that Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah want to join the Big 12. With Yormark now at the helm, expect the Big 12 to be active and aggressive in expanding the conference.
“People understand the direction of the Big 12, and we’re exploring those levels of interest,” Yormark said. “Nothing is imminent, but we’re working hard to make sure that we position the Big 12 in the best possible way on a go forward basis.”
Yormark also touched on another relevant topic in today’s climate, and that’s name, image, and likeness.
“I’m an advocate of NIL,” Yormark said. “From a personal point of view, I think there needs to be guardrails. There probably needs to be uniformity, and maybe the conference needs to take a bigger role in what NIL looks like going forward. I think given my background, having spent so much time in the commercial space, I’m very well suited for NIL in whatever form it takes in a go forward base.
Yormark has indeed had plenty of experience in the commercial space, thriving nearly everywhere he has landed. Yormark found success with Nascar before becoming the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets in 2005. Yormark spent over 15 years with the Nets, and now serves as the COO of Jay Z’s Roc Nation.
Yormark will start his role as Big 12 commissioner on August 1st. Look for Yormark and company to hit the ground running as he tries to make the conference more contemporary and more competitive than ever.
Photo by Big 12 Media.
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