Florida running search for general manager with The Athlete Group

The consulting firm The Athlete Group is running a search with Florida to hire a general manager, multiple sources tell On3.

Working directly with athletic director Scott Stricklin and head football coach Billy Napier, it’s the latest move by a Power 4 institution to prepare for the impact of the multibillion-dollar House settlement. A partner at The Athlete Group, former Philadelphia Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg announced in July the firm was advising Oklahoma on the transition to the “salary cap” era of college athletics.

Viewed as one of Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman’s closest advisors, Rosenberg was with the Eagles for 12.5 years, working as vice president of football administration and director of football administration at times during his tenure.

Now he brings his experience to the changing college football landscape. While full details of the general manager position at Florida are unclear, a source told On3 that the staffer will play a key role in the handling of revenue sharing.

Programs across the table are currently evaluating what personnel needs to be brought in to handle revenue sharing. Roles could include a general manager position, which Florida is hiring, or a salary cap management department. Rosenberg was known as a salary cap guru with the Eagles.

Florida looks to hire GM with revenue-sharing coming

With the multibillion-dollar settlement, schools will opt-in to a revenue-sharing agreement, with the option to share roughly $20 to $22 million per year with players. That number will increase over the 10-year settlement.

Of the $2.77 billion expected to be paid in back damages to former athletes as part of the House case, the NCAA is expected to be responsible for 40% of the payout. The other 60% will come from a reduction in school distributions. Judge Claudia Wilken will rule on preliminary approval of the settlement on Sept. 5.

Roster limits have been set at 105 for football, up from the current 85-man NCAA scholarship limit.

“Ultimately when you talk about NIL revenue share, the game continues to evolve, and I think it’s critical we have to move forward here and pursue some national standards,” Napier said at SEC media days. “The players want it, and I promise you the coaches want it.”

How plaintiff attorneys divide back damages is expected to be how schools approach Title IX and shape a framework for revenue sharing. Steve Berman, the co-lead counsel for plaintiffs in the House case, previously confirmed to On3 that the settlement is on track to disperse 75% of TV revenue in back damages to football. From there, 15% would be funneled to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and the final 5% divided by the remaining athletes.

Napier told Yahoo! Sports in July that he believes up to $15 million will be allotted to football in revenue sharing.

“Do the math,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “We’re talking $20 million (in allotted revenue sharing). In most athletic departments, football is 70-75% of the revenue. That’s $12.5-15 million. That’s the number we anticipate.”