Brett Yormark to Leave Big 12 in January After Securing $2.28 Billion Deal

Brett Yormark will leave his position as Big 12 commissioner on Jan. 31, ending a four-year tenure marked by major shifts in conference alignment and television rights.

The announcement came Friday, approximately 18 months after Yormark signed a three-year contract extension that was set to keep him in the role until 2030. He will remain in the job through the end of January to oversee the transition.

Yormark, the fifth commissioner in the league's 32-year history, joined the Big 12 in 2022. He previously served as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and as CEO of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. He replaced Bob Bowlsby, who had negotiated the initial moves for BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF into the conference.

During his tenure, Yormark secured a six-year television contract extension with ESPN and Fox valued at $2.28 billion. He also oversaw the addition of Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to the Big 12 following the collapse of the Pac-12. He described the league as "open for business" during the conference's first football media days after taking the job.

The commissioner credited his business background with driving sponsorship deals and marketing initiatives during a period of rapid change in college sports, particularly regarding name, image, and likeness deals. He stated that his goal was to put the conference on an upward trajectory and that the next commissioner will inherit a league that is "16 Strong."

Douglas A. Girod, the University of Kansas chancellor and chairman of the Big 12 board, thanked Yormark on behalf of the conference presidents. Girod said Yormark's vision and business acumen put the league on its current path, noting that the conference was at a crossroads when Yormark arrived.

Yormark said the future of the conference is in a better shape than ever and that there has never been a better time to be a member of the Big 12.