Brett Yormark on first year as Big 12 commissioner: ‘This conference needed someone like me’

After Bob Bowlsby announced his plans to step down as Big 12 commissioner on the heels of two high-profile departures, the conference looked outside the box by hiring former Roc Nation CEO Brett Yormark to the role. He came out swinging — infamously saying the conference was “open for business” at Big 12 Media Days in July 2022 — and remains aggressive entering Year 2.

That said, he knows he’s still getting a feel for the job. But through one year, he thinks he’s fitting in well.

“[I] still have a lot to learn,” Yormark told FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt. “But when I look back on my first year, I think many of my skillsets were transferrable. Every commissioner’s job is different, and it needs a different set of skillsets. This conference needed someone like me — someone that was willing to disrupt, innovate, create, look at the conference a little differently, build its business and brand and profile. And I’m the right guy for the job, candidly. I think it’s been a wonderful fit.”

Before Yormark took over, the Big 12 already took steps to address the departures of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC as four new schools accepted invitations. But there were some other things he had to address beyond replacing two of the conference’s top members. The media rights deal originally ran through 2025, but Yormark orchestrated a new agreement that runs through 2031.

That’s where his aggressive mindset gave the Big 12 an advantage — and became a reason Yormark thinks the conference was such a good fit for him.

“I’m not sure I’d be a fit to run other conferences, candidly,” Yormark said. “Maybe too aggressive, which is perfectly fine. But this was the right place for me. And I’m not saying that the brand in any way, shape or form was distressed. Because it wasn’t. Nothing was broken. But this was a conference that needed to get better and do things differently.

“And even during the interview process, I sensed from the board they were willing to pivot away from the traditional. In fact, I’m not sure they had any other choice on the heels of Texas and Oklahoma leaving, a potential upcoming TV deal. They needed to create a different narrative and profile.”

At Media Days this year, Yormark said the TV deal was “the catalyst for everything” he accomplished in his first year as Big 12 commissioner. But to get that deal done, he had to convince the board to agree to a new deal earlier than expected.

That was a big step for Yormark considering the board’s mindset as he took over. But he takes great pride in being open and honest, which he also extends to the schools and other leadership.

“Because most of them are very conservative, but they are all-in,” Yormark said of orchestrating a deal early. “And they have given me a lot of latitude to move forward. That being said, I do realize — and I know my name’s not on the door — I’m very transparent with our governance groups, specifically ADs and presidents. Nothing we do doesn’t get vetted out with them first.”

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