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.