The Big 12 conference is in late-stage talks to hire current RocNation COO Brett Yormark to replace Bob Bowlsby as commissioner, according to an SI report.
Bowlsby announced in April that he would step down.
Yormark has been at RocNation since 2019 after over a decade as the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets.
The hire would make the Big 12 the second Power 5 conference to choose a leader from outside college sports. In 2021, the Pac-12 anointed MGM Resorts president of entertainment and sports George Kliavkoff as commissioner.
This year, RocNation dove deep into NIL. So Yorkmark’s hire makes sense — NIL has been top of mind for school, conference, and NCAA officials. After all, many schools are hiring NIL consultants outside college sports — why not pick one as conference commissioner?
Officials are exploring ways to prohibit NIL deals from being used as recruiting inducements and pay-for-play deals. Yormark will likely be tasked with helping lead these discussions.
Hopefully, he’ll also help guide the conference in helping athletes make money, too.
Yormark will also be negotiating a new media rights deal, adding four new conference members, and facilitating the exit of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, among other challenges.
