PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Scarlet Knight Enterprises announced a distinguished group of industry leaders to serve on its inaugural board of directors led by chairman Oliver Luck. The board will operate in an advisory capacity, providing strategic insight and guidance to support the continued growth and innovation of Rutgers Athletics.
Scarlet Knight Enterprises Board of Directors:
- Oliver Luck – Chairman of the Board
- Finn Wentworth – Sports and Media Executive; co-founder of YES Network and former President of YankeeNets
- Michael Flaherty – Vice President/General Manager, Nike Basketball – North America
- Kathryn Tappen – NBC Sports broadcaster and Rutgers alumna (cross country/track and field)
“The collective experience of this board is truly exceptional,” said Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn. “Their expertise in revenue generation, media, branding and partnership development will be instrumental in creating new resources that drive the future of Rutgers Athletics.”
“This group brings together accomplished leaders to form a dynamic advisory board focused on pushing Rutgers Athletics forward,” said Luck. “There is a strong sense of excitement within this group to help Rutgers chart a new path and create cutting edge opportunities that shape the future of college athletics.”
Under Luck’s leadership, the board will work closely with the athletic department and Scarlet Knight Enterprises to explore new opportunities for revenue generation, including in areas such as corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, ticketing strategy and NIL initiatives.
Finn Wentworth is a New Jersey-based entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist with a distinguished career spanning real estate, sports and media. He was a key architect behind the formation of YankeeNets, a merger between the Nets, New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Wentworth was instrumental in founding the YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country. Wentworth has served on the boards of the NBA, Yankees, Nets and Devils during periods of championship success.
A lifelong New Jersey resident, Wentworth has been deeply committed to philanthropy and civic leadership. He has held leadership roles across numerous organizations, including co-founding the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, chairing the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center and serving on the Atlantic Health System Board of Trustees. His contributions have been recognized with honors including the NAIOP Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the NJBIZ and New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Michael Flaherty is the Vice President and General Manager for Nike Basketball in North America, where he leads strategy, marketplace integration and brand growth across one of Nike’s most influential sports. Known for translating consumer insight into impactful business results, Flaherty has played a key role in reshaping Nike Basketball’s North America strategy, driving significant growth and connection with the next generation of hoopers across North America. With leadership roles spanning over two decades with Nike, Jordan Brand and the NBA, Flaherty has built a reputation for developing innovative marketing strategies and executing integrated go-to-market approaches that connect product, content, sport and culture.
Flaherty is a Rutgers alumnus (RC’ 00) and spent his four years ‘On the Banks’ serving as a student manager for the men’s basketball program, including as head manager from 1998-2000. His wife Colleen (formerly O’Connell) is also a Rutgers graduate (ENG ’01) and was a captain on the dance team, winning a national championship in 1998.
Kathryn Tappen is an Emmy Award winning sportscaster and one of the most versatile voices in sports media, serving as a reporter and host for NBC Sports, TNT and NHL Network. Tappen is the sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and contributes to select NFL broadcasts for the network throughout the season.
Tappen has provided coverage at many of the world’s premier sporting events, including the Olympics, Super Bowl, Sunday Night Football, Stanley Cup Playoffs and major golf championships. She earned a Sports Emmy Award for her role in NBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics. Tappen also previously served as host of NBC Sports’ NHL coverage and was part of the first all-female broadcast team for an NHL game in the United States. In addition to her broadcasting career, she is active in philanthropy, serving on the board of the Marine Raider Foundation and supporting organizations such as the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs.
A cross country and track and field letterwinner, Tappen excelled in the classroom as an Academic All-American and Big East Academic All-Star. She previously held the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and now owns the fifth-fastest time in the event in program history.
The seven-member board includes the four external members to the University and three Rutgers designees – Director of Athletics Keli Zinn; Board of Governor Chairwoman Amy Towers and Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer Kimberly Lewis.
Scarlet Knight Enterprises has unified the athletic department’s key business operations into a single, purpose-driven entity designed to create strategic partnerships that elevate brand visibility and produce revenue growth. By combining multimedia rights, marketing and NIL opportunities, the organization connects student-athletes and partners through innovative content, premium experiences and expanded engagement across digital, broadcast and live-event platforms.
