Brett Yormark to Step Down as Big 12 Chief
The commissioner will remain in office until January 31, 2027, after serving for four years.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Brett Yormark announced on Friday that he is resigning as commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. The departure marks the end of his four-year tenure, a period defined by major structural shifts in the league and college athletics. Yormark will continue to serve in the role until January 31, 2027.
The announcement comes approximately eighteen months after the conference leadership group signed Yormark to a three-year contract extension. That agreement was set to keep him in the position through 2030. Yormark, the fifth individual to hold the commissioner title in the league’s 32-year history, stated that his primary objective upon hiring was to place the conference on an upward trajectory.
Yormark told the conference that the future of the Big 12 is in a strong position. He noted that his successor will inherit a group of sixteen members. “There has never been a better time to be a member of the Big 12 than right now,” Yormark said.
Yormark assumed the role in 2022, succeeding Bob Bowlsby. Prior to joining the Big 12, he served as the chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Nets and as the CEO of Roc Nation, the entertainment firm associated with Jay-Z. His background in business operations preceded his move into college sports leadership.
During Yormark’s tenure, the conference secured a six-year television contract extension with ESPN and Fox. The deal is valued at $2.28 billion. The agreement was finalized while the college sports market underwent major changes regarding name, image, and likeness compensation for student-athletes.
The Big 12 expanded its membership during this period. Yormark oversaw the addition of Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah. These four schools joined the conference following the collapse of the Pac-12. Yormark had previously declared the league “open for business” during his first football media days after being hired. The conference also absorbed BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, a transition that began under the previous commissioner.
Douglas A. Girod, the University of Kansas chancellor and Big 12 board chairman, thanked Yormark on behalf of the conference presidents. Girod described the period as extraordinary for college athletics. He credited Yormark’s vision and business acumen for guiding the conference from a crossroads to its current standing.
Yormark’s departure will allow the conference to begin the search for his replacement. The next commissioner will take office after January 31, 2027.
