Big 12 Conference Names Brett Yormark as New Commissioner

The Big 12 Conference announced on Wednesday, June 29, that Brett Yormark has been named the conference's new commissioner. 

Yormark succeeds Bob Bowlsby, who announced in April that he was retiring after a decade with the Big 12.

Yormark’s anticipated start date with the Big 12 is August 1. His contract term is five years. 

Brett Yormark

Yormark joins the Big 12 from Roc Nation, where he served as chief operating officer and co-CEO of Roc Nation Unified, the commercial side of the business. 

Roc Nation is an entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z in 2008. The company has offices in New York, London and Los Angeles. It includes a talent agency, sports agency, record label, management, TV & Film, a clothing line, media relations, publishing, school, philanthropy, an exhibition network and more.

Yormark, a graduate of Indiana University, began his sports career in 1988, when he worked in the ticket office for the New Jersey Nets. He reached the pinnacle of the industry when he was named CEO of the Nets and Barclays Center, from 2005-2019. During that time, he oversaw the Nets' move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, the building of the first new arena in New York City in 60 years and the re-launching of the Nets organization and brand in Brooklyn.
 
Prior to joining the Nets, Yormark served as vice president of corporate sponsorships for NASCAR, where he oversaw a $750-million partnership agreement, the largest in history at that time, that gave Nextel Communications the naming rights to its premier racing series.
 
The current Big 12 membership includes Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and West Virginia University.
 
Entering Big 12 membership in the summer of 2023 will be Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and University of Houston.

 

 

Big 12 Conference Schools Receiving Record $42.6 Million for 2021-22

 

The Big 12 will distribute a record $42.6 million to each of its members for the 2021-22 school year.

The conference’s previous two years of distributions to member schools were hurt by the pandemic. Last year, schools received $34.5 million; in 2020, that figure was $37.7 million. Big 12 distribution figures don’t include third-tier media right that are controlled by the schools

The revenue primarily comes from television contracts, postseason football and basketball and championship games.

About half of the league's TV value comes from Texas and Oklahoma, which have announced that they are leaving the conference for the SEC. 

The Sooners and Longhorns could remain in the conference through the end of the Big 12’s current TV deals with ESPN and Fox at the 2024-25 school year.

That would make the Big 12 a 14-team league for two years, beginning in 2023-24 with the addition of BYU, Houston, Central Florida and Cincinnati.

 

 

NCAA Examining Name, Image, Likeness Affect

 

 

Recently, the NCAA Division I Council took a deep look into how name, image, and likeness (NIL) is affecting student-athletes, including influence on school choice and transferring, and the impact on academics and student mental health. The Council is considering adjustments to the Interim NIL Policy and/or NCAA rules and has provided additional NIL guidance specific to third-party involvement and the recruiting process. 

TCU Athletics thanks alumni, local businesses and fans for the value they are bringing to the Fort Worth community., and reminds you that as you continue to develop NIL ideas and activities, TCU and its staff members cannot be involved in facilitating or arranging NIL opportunities for TCU student-athletes. NIL activity must be separate from the institution and opportunities can not be tied to a prospective student-athlete’s or student-athlete’s enrollment or continued enrollment at TCU. 

If you want to form new NIL relationships with student-athletes, we suggest accessing TCU's NIL Directory (here)  and reaching out to student-athletes directly. Additionally, keep the TCU Athletics office informed of student-athlete NIL activities.

Here are some highlights from the attached NIL guidance:

Guidance Related to Prospective Student-Athletes

• Recruiting conversations between an individual or entity that has triggered booster status (“booster/NIL entity”) and a PSA are not permissible.
• Booster/NIL entity may not communicate (e.g., call, text, direct message) with a PSA, a PSA’s family, or others affiliated with the PSA for a recruiting purpose or to encourage the PSA’s enrollment at a particular institution.
• An NIL agreement between a PSA and a booster/NIL entity may not be guaranteed or promised contingent on initial or continuing enrollment at a particular institution.
• Institutional coaches and staff may not organize, facilitate or arrange a meeting between a booster/NIL entity and a PSA (e.g., provide the individual or entity with a recruiting list or watch list, including the NCAA Transfer Portal).
• Institutional coaches and staff may not communicate directly or indirectly with a PSA on behalf of a booster/NIL entity.
• NIL agreements must be based on an independent, case-by-case analysis of the value that each athlete brings to an NIL agreement as opposed to providing compensation or incentives for enrollment decisions (e.g., signing a letter of intent or transferring), athletic performance (e.g., points scored, minutes played, winning a contest), achievement (e.g., starting position, award winner) or membership on a team (e.g., being on roster).

Guidance Related to Current Student-Athletes

• An NIL agreement between a student-athlete and a booster/NIL entity may not be guaranteed or promised contingent on initial or continuing enrollment at a particular institution.
• NIL agreements must be based on an independent, case-by-case analysis of the value that each athlete brings to an NIL agreement as opposed to providing compensation or incentives for enrollment decisions (e.g., signing a letter of intent or transferring), athletic performance (e.g., points scored, minutes played, winning a contest), achievement (e.g., starting position, award winner) or membership on a team.

NCAA Interim NIL Policy Guidance: here  

 Contact the TCU Compliance Office for additional information: 817-257-4614