Report: COO of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Targeted For Big 12 Commissioner Job

Brett Yormark, the Chief Operating Officer of Jay-Z’s agency Roc Nation, has been targeted by the Big 12 to become the conference’s next commissioner, as first reported on Monday night by Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.

Yormark has little college sports experience but previously served as the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets franchise. Yormark played a huge role in moving the Nets from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012. The 55-year-old served that position for 14 years until he took his current role at Roc Nation in 2019.

During his time at Roc Nation, Yormark has worked with artists and athletes to reach sponsorship deals. If Yormark is hired, he will be taking over a conference that will change rapidly over the next couple of years.

Cincinnati, UCF, Houston and BYU were formally invited to the Big 12 Conference back in September 2021. The Big 12 needed to start thinking about creating a future plan without Oklahoma and Texas, who are set to join the SEC once the current Big 12 TV contract expires in 2025. All four programs will join the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.

In early April, current Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced he was stepping down after 10 years of service. Bowlsby will continue to serve his role until a replacement is found.

Yormark would become the fifth commissioner in the conference’s history.