Big 12 Conference Commissioner Brett Yormark is stepping down from his position effective January 31, 2027. The conference announced the decision Friday, October 30, and says a national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
Yormark became the fifth commissioner in Big 12 history when he took over in August 2022. His departure comes after approximately four and a half years leading the conference through one of the most significant periods of change in college athletics.
During his tenure, Yormark helped stabilize the Big 12 following the departures of Texas and Oklahoma, while overseeing the addition of eight new schools. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joined in 2023, followed by Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah in 2024. The conference now has 16 members, including Kansas, Kansas State and West Virginia.
Yormark also negotiated a six-year television agreement with ESPN and FOX reportedly worth $2.28 billion, helping secure the conference's financial future. He played a prominent role in national discussions involving name, image and likeness compensation, the House settlement, the College Football Playoff expansion and the changing landscape of college sports.
Before joining the Big 12, Yormark served as CEO of Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, and previously led business operations for the Brooklyn Nets.
University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod, who chairs the Big 12 Board of Directors, praised Yormark's leadership, saying his vision and business background helped put the conference on solid footing during a critical time.
Yormark says he believes the Big 12 is in a strong position for the future and that his successor will inherit a conference that is "16 Strong."
The conference says Yormark will remain in his position through January 31, 2027, while the search for a new commissioner gets underway.
