New Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark scheduled to meet with conference ADs Friday

Newly hired Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is scheduled to meet with athletic directors from each member of the conference via Zoom on Friday, per CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. Yormark will also make an appearance at Big 12 media days on July 13.

It was not revealed whether BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF — which are set to join the Big 12 next year — are among the schools Yormark will speak to.

Yormark will replace Bob Bowlsby, who announced his intention to retire earlier this year. The new Big 12 commissioner spent the last three years as the COO of Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. Before that, Yormark spent 14 years with the Brooklyn Nets and played a significant role in moving the team from New Jersey.

“Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do,” said Yormark in a statement. “I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”

The Big 12 is the latest Power 5 conference to hire a commissioner from outside college sports. Last year, the Pac-12 moved to hire George Kliavkoff after he served as the president of MGM Resorts International.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger first reported the Big 12’s decision to hire Yormark and called the hire “unconventional.”

“Yormark is thought of as one of the more connected and bright executives within the entertainment agency industry,” Dellenger said. “He was promoted in January to COO and president of business operations and strategy. Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation, has referred to Yormark as ‘a fearless leader.’”

The biggest challenge for Brett Yormark, and possibly one that defines his tenure as the Big 12 commissioner, is dealing with the upcoming realignment. Texas and Oklahoma will be on their way out to join the SEC no later than 2025.

Television rights will also be up after the 2024-2025 season, and the Big 12 is one of the last Power Five conferences to be getting a new deal.

On3’s Nick Schultz and Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.