Revenue Brew’s Jordyn Grzelewski breaks down the evolution of the CRO position as artificial intelligence and revenue operations (RevOps) integration transform the title away from its late-1990s origins as a standard head of sales. A 2023 McKinsey analysis revealed that while only 11% of Fortune 100 companies employ a CRO, organizations featuring the role generate 1.8x the revenue growth of their counterparts, prompting companies founded between 2016 and 2022 to hire for the position twice as quickly as those established between 2009 and 2015. The modern position requires leaders like GM Energy CRO Aseem Kapur, Treefera CRO Caroline Grey, and Freehand CRO Jim Hilbert to consolidate traditionally siloed departments—spanning marketing, customer success, and product development—into a single pipeline. Chicago Booth School Executive Education Lead Dan Frailey explained that while AI platforms like Anthropic's Claude will accelerate technical workflows, the human element of aligning competing corporate divisions remains the core function that separates genuine leaders from inflated sales titles: "You’ll have a lot more AI involved in your tech stack and your organization, but I don’t think the role itself is really going to change that much in terms of the role as it should be: the real CRO versus the glorified head of sales." (link)

Marketers increasingly relied on creator-led strategies rather than static media buys to capture audience engagement during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Digiday’s Seb Joseph and Alyssa Mercante with key observations…

➤ Unilever utilized artificial intelligence to scale its digital network from 10K to 300K influencers, ultimately deploying 50K creators across 35 brands in 120 markets.

➤ Joseph and Mercante also point out that fans sought out alternative broadcasting options, evidenced by IShowSpeed drawing 9.2M YouTube viewers for a Portugal match stream that reportedly outperformed the linear broadcast from Fox Sports. 

➤ MKTG Sports + Entertainment SVP Amar Singh on how this digital infrastructure fundamentally altered consumer viewing habits: "This has been the first World Cup where creators have gone from being the amplification layer sitting around the broadcast to effectively becoming the broadcast. Half the audience experiences big moments through a streamer’s reaction before they see the actual replay." (link)

Speaking of creative applications of influencer marketing, Bloomberg’s Cecilia D'Anastasio reports that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is increasingly utilizing social media to modernize its recruitment and proselytizing efforts. While the church instituted a policy in 2018 against directly paying creators to post religious content on their personal channels, its for-profit subsidiary Deseret Management Corp. and agencies like Boncom actively hire influencers to produce content for the church's official platforms. The strategy relies on a heavily vetted roster of creators to project a polished, preppy aesthetic that indirectly advertises the Mormon lifestyle to combat rising online criticism from ex-members. LDS Director of Reputation Management Derek Westra explained that the church relies on this curated network of creators to organically amplify the religion’s brand without dictating specific talking points on their personal feeds: “We are never directors. We never tell them to post this.” (link)

The Los Angeles Lakers selected L.A.-based Albert as their jersey patch sponsor, according to SBJ’s Tom Friend, who notes this marks the personal finance app’s first deal with an NBA franchise and adds: “Terms of the arrangement were undisclosed; the Lakers’ previous patch sponsorship with Korean food brand Bibigo was for a reported five years and $100M. Prior to that, the team had an undisclosed five-year deal with e-commerce brand Wish. … The company also has patch deals with the WNBA’s Wings and Dream.” (link)

Aston Villa finalized a multi-year front-of-shirt sponsorship with Visit Rwanda, securing the most lucrative commercial partnership in the club's history following the departure of gambling platform Betano. The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell reports the agreement includes an estimated baseline value of £17M annually, with performance bonuses potentially pushing the total to £20M ($27M). The pact comes amid intense international scrutiny, as the United Nations recently linked the Rwandan government to the M23 armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The geopolitical controversy previously triggered severe backlash from fanbases at Visit Rwanda's other European partners, highlighted by 75K Paris Saint-Germain supporters signing a petition to cut commercial ties, 90% of polled Arsenal fans demanding the end of an eight-year sleeve sponsorship, and Bayern Munich supporters displaying protest banners at the Allianz Arena. Aston Villa Head of Business Operations Francesco Calvo dismissed the ethical pushback from organizations like Amnesty International: "In terms of geopolitics, I don’t believe it’s the place of football clubs to opine on these serious issues. We have a responsibility to our fans and our communities to be true to our values, but not to weigh in on issues much more serious than football which we are not experts in." (link)

Manchester City partnered with sports memorabilia site MatchWornShirt to auction office items and training equipment belonging to former manager Pep Guardiola following his departure after 10 seasons. The auction features personalized pitch pads, an incense collection, a training whistle carrying a £230 ($308) bid, and a desk chair exceeding £500 ($671). The highest-priced item currently sits at £2,970 ($3,986) for a commemorative football signed by Erling Haaland celebrating his milestone as the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, representing one of only three such balls ever produced. (link)

Major League Soccer franchises are leveraging the newly approved back-of-kit sponsorship inventory to capture immediate commercial momentum following the World Cup. SBJ’s Alex Silverman points out that Inter Miami became the first club to formally secure a deal for the space, bundling the asset into its recent stadium naming-rights agreement with Nubank. NYCFC President/CEO Brad Sims anticipates the placement will generate between $4M and $5M annually for his organization, noting internal research values the location equal to or higher than the traditional right sleeve patch. The new commercial offering provides companies immediate entry into the league ahead of the opening of NYCFC's $780M soccer-specific stadium in July 2027, with San Diego FC CEO Tom Penn detailing the broader sales pitch to prospective corporate partners: "Everybody’s in active conversations, and this should help get some significant CMOs to say, ‘Yeah, this is a place that we ought to invest and get on this train, get on this rocket ship.'" (link)

MLB coordinated scheduling and ticketing logistics with FIFA two years in advance of the 2026 World Cup to capture the influx of international fans across domestic markets, SBJ’s Mike Mazzeo reports. MLB SVP of Global Operations and Events Jeremiah Yolkut noted the league intentionally adjusted its calendar to accommodate Fox broadcasting windows and neighboring venue logistics, including giving the Royals a Saturday off to clear space for an Ecuador-Curacao match at Arrowhead Stadium. The league anticipates the overlapping schedules will yield long-term international corporate partnerships, with MLB CMO Uzma Rawn Dowler explaining how the league will utilize the resulting consumer data to inform future global activations: "Whether it’s MLBx: 3-on-3 or something else, for us to take some of the findings and insights that we are hopefully going to gather coming out of the World Cup of where we’ve seen fanbases leaning in in specific markets to see where that could help drive or inform some of [our] thinking." (link)

Here’s a pretty good breakdown of why Fanatics spent $80-90M for the four-day Fanatics Fest to operate a customer acquisition and data-harvesting platform rather than a traditional profit-generating live event, according to Huddle Up publisher Joe Pompliano. Check it out…

➤ The gathering was expected to draw 200K attendees paying between $70 and $80 per ticket, generating roughly $15M in gate receipts while requiring users to register for Fanatics ONE accounts that log merchandise histories and sport preferences. 

➤ Pompliano notes the registration funnel provides behavioral intelligence for Fanatics Sportsbook—which competes against FanDuel and DraftKings in a market where online customer acquisition costs typically range from $300 to $500—and serves as a pipeline for a Fanatics Collectibles division projected to reach $5B in 2025. 

➤ The event also integrated new international demographics by hosting the FIFA World Cup Finals press conference outside a stadium for the first time, exposing global soccer fans to the company's retail ecosystem. 

➤ Pompliano on why Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin views the upfront event expenses as a calculated long-term investment: "At the end of the day, Fanatics Fest goes way beyond just four days at the Javits Center in New York City. It’s really about everything that happens after fans go home. ... Fanatics is essentially buying years of future purchases (and loyalty) from hundreds of thousands of people who now feel a real connection to the brand." (link)

CFO Brew’s Demi Lawrence examines the escalating data security risks posed by employees utilizing unsanctioned artificial intelligence platforms, as iboss CEO Paul Martini warns that shadow AI usage frequently results in sensitive business information leaking into public large language models, bypassing the security measures established for approved enterprise tools like Microsoft Copilot and Claude. A 2025 IBM report analyzing 600 organizations across 16 countries and 17 industries revealed that 13% experienced AI-related data breaches, with 97% of those compromised companies lacking proper access controls. To combat the vulnerability, Infor CISO Derek Bush advises against the costly endeavor of building proprietary models, urging leaders to instead establish strong foundational security governance. Zuora CIO Karthik Chakkarapani adds: "The message should be very simple: Use approved tools, protect confidential data, verify outputs, and escalate questions early. ... Policy documents are important, but they’re not good enough. If you don’t enforce it, nobody’s going to use it. So teams need very clear information and dos and don’ts, practical examples, continuous training and enablement, [a] simple decision framework." (link)

Interested in advertising a job opening in CRO.ticker on CollegeSports.jobs? Submit your position here.

(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)

(NEW!) Assistant Athletics Director (or Director) of Fan Engagement and Marketing (Colgate University / Hamilton, NY): The Asst. Athletics Director (or Director) of Fan Engagement & Marketing provides strategic, effective leadership of fan experience, marketing, ticket sales/operations, engagement, and hospitality. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications (Men's Basketball) (University of the Pacific / Stockton, CA): The Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications will be responsible for various duties within the Marketing and Communications department. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Video Services (University of Northern Colorado / Greeley, CO): The position is responsible for all live event production and web streaming for UNC Athletics. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Senior Graphic Designer (Florida State University / Tallahassee, FL): Lead visual branding and graphics efforts for FSU's 21-sport athletics department. Create graphics and manage workflows that produce content reflective of FSU's branding standards and visual identity. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate Director-Development Stewardship (Athletics) (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): This position will create, develop, and implement a comprehensive stewardship program that includes donor events, impact reports, and ensuring all stated benefits are delivered. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director - Marketing & Game Presentation (University of Massachusetts – Amherst / Amherst, MA): Oversee all aspects of the athletic sales, marketing, and promotions unit including ensuring the maintenance and adherence to the philosophies and regulations. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director, Development (Iowa State University / Ames, IA): Learfield Amplify is hiring a Leadership Annual Giving Officer to join the Cyclone Club Team and help grow support for Iowa State Athletics and its student-athletes. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Senior Producer (University of Texas – El Paso / El Paso, TX): Work with UTEP Athletics teams and programs to tell the story of our student-athletes through narratives, features and in-depth video content. More details HERE.  

(NEW!) Director - Annual Giving for Athletics (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): Responsible for the design and implementation of a comprehensive initiative to attract unrestricted gifts to the GTAA made via the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate Director - Development Fundraising (Athletics) (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): Front-line development officer responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of a coordinated program of fundraising activities. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate Director or Director of Communications (University of Oklahoma / Norman, OK): Serve as the primary communications contact for OU's men's basketball program and other sport as assigned. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director of Athletic Development (Towson University / Towson, MD): The Assistant Director, reporting to the Senior Director of Athletic Development, is involved in all aspects of the Annual Campaign with acquiring, engaging, retaining, and upgrading donors. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate Athletic Director, Revenue Generation and Membership Development (Boise State University / Boise, ID): The Associate AD strategically leads data-driven revenue generation for Athletics, executing the What’s Next 2.0 revenue pillar and all future strategic growth plans. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate/Director of Basketball Marketing and Fan Experience (University of Connecticut / Storrs Mansfield, CT): This position will be responsible for executing a best-in-class marketing plan and fan experience for UConn Basketball, with a primary focus on elevating game presentation and atmosphere. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Manager, Partnership Marketing (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Sports Enterprises to execute sponsorship activations, strengthen partner relationships, and bring innovative marketing campaigns to life for Arizona Athletics. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Associate Director of Donor Relations (University of Kansas / Lawrence, KS): Assists KU Athletics Development staff with donor hospitality, events, and stewardship. Leads communication, stewardship efforts, social media, inventory, and supervises student staff More details HERE.

Communications Intern (Big Sky Conference / Farmington, UT): Assisting staff with day-to-day video needs, which includes producing, editing, and filming content for the Big Sky's social media channels (over 150 million impressions in 2025-26). More details HERE.

Business Specialist (Rutgers University / Piscataway, NJ): This position will report to the Asst Director-Supervisor and assist in day to day business operations including athletics general accounting and procurement (P2P). More details HERE.

Coordinator, Major Gifts (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Athletics as Coordinator of Major Gifts, creating meaningful donor recognition experiences and strengthening relationships that fuel championship excellence. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director and CFO for Athletics (Georgia Southern University / Statesboro, GA): Oversee budget, financial, business, and accounting functions for the assigned division(s) to effectively ensure overall fiscal alignment with university goals, policies, and procedures. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Statesboro? Click HERE.

Director of Ticket Sales (University of Missouri / Columbia, MO): Leads the department's ticket sales strategy and revenue generation through ticket sales initiatives to maximize revenue across all sports through season tickets, premium, and group sales. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Marketing & Fan Experience (University of Nebraska / Lincoln, NE): Assist in the planning and execution of marketing responsibilities surrounding 25 varsity sports with Nebraska Athletics. UNL ranked among the best places to work in the state and the nation! More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (University of Colorado – Boulder / Boulder, CO): The Buffs are looking for an Assistant Director/Athletic Communications to work with our women's basketball program, be primary contact on other varsity sports and run our student assistant program. More details HERE.

Broadcast Engineer (San Diego State University / San Diego, CA): Play a key role in bringing the excitement of Aztec Athletics to fans while working alongside a talented team in one of the nation's premier collegiate athletics programs. More details HERE.

Director, Creative Media - Football (University of Wyoming / Laramie, WY): Leads, executes, and manages creative services strategy for the University of Wyoming football program. More details HERE. 

Video Coordinator - Athletics (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): The Video Coordinator will plan, shoot, edit, and produce all video content used by the Athletics department in support of the promotion and success of its intercollegiate athletics programs. More details HERE. 

Assistant Director, Athletic Communications (Bowling Green State University / Bowling Green, OH): This individual serves as the chief media relations director for several sports within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. More details HERE. 

Director of Bronco Productions, Creative Media, & Digital Strategy (Western Michigan University / Kalamazoo, MI): Develops and executes creative media and digital content strategies. Oversees video/digital content planning, production, and distribution. Directs all aspects of video content creation. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Major Gifts (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Athletics and help fuel championship excellence by building meaningful donor relationships and securing major gifts that support scholarships, programs, and facilities. More details HERE.

Manager, Ticket Sales & Service (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): Strategic business leader for ticket sales, CRM, analytics, and revenue optimization across the Legends Global partnership with Georgia Tech Athletics. More details HERE.

Marketing Coordinator (College Coaches Skills Camp (CCSC) / Remote): You’ll work directly with the CEO to execute the company’s marketing vision while owning the day-to-day execution of the marketing engine that drives athlete registrations. More details HERE.  

Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Giving (University of Texas – Austin / Austin, TX): This position is in charge of maximizing revenues from leadership fundraising initiatives, including capital, DeLoss Dodds Leadership Team, the United Texas Circle, and endowed giving opportunities. More details HERE.

Ticketing and Digital Communications Specialist (Bowling Green State University / Bowling Green, OH): Oversee email marketing efforts for the BGSU Ticket Office, which includes but not limited to, development of email campaigns and ticketing communications More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director for Development and Strategic Partnerships (University of South Carolina – Upstate / Spartanburg, SC): The Associate Athletic Director for Development and Strategic Partnerships will be responsible for the coordination and management of a comprehensive and ongoing revenue generation program. More details HERE.

Director of Business Operations (HR Title: Budget Analyst I) - (ATH00000496) (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): This role will work primarily with coaches, staff and University business and finance partners to assist in financial needs and developing internal mechanisms to increase organizational efficiencies. More details HERE.

Director of Football Finance (University of Oklahoma / Norman, OK): The Director of Football Finance provides strategic financial oversight across all aspects of football operations. More details HERE. 

Deputy Athletics Director for External Operations (0089300) (University of Hawaii at Manoa / Honolulu, HI): Serves as a member of the executive leadership team and provides strategic oversight of external operations. Responsible revenue generation, brand visibility, and engagement key stakeholders. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Honolulu? Click HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Development (University of Central Arkansas / Conway, AR): Leading the athletic development efforts to maximize revenue for our 18 Division I programs located in Conway, Arkansas. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Tide Pride Annual Giving (University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa, AL): This position generates annual giving revenue for Tide Pride and the Crimson Tide Foundation. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Creative Content (United States Naval Academy / Annapolis, MD): The NAAA has an opening for the Asst. Dir. of Creative Content in charge of producing high-level video content for Navy Athletics that includes shooting and editing dynamic pieces for all platforms. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing (MARKETING SPEC 3) jOB # 87306 (University of California – Davis / Davis, CA): The Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing serves as the primary brand steward for UC Davis Athletics and our sport programs, driving strategy that illuminates the brand and department initiatives. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Sales and Operations (University of Arkansas / Fayetteville, AR): The Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Sales and Operations will oversee the day-to-day operations of both the ticket sales team and the ticket operations team. More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director for Business Strategy/CFO (University of California – Santa Barbara / Santa Barbara, CA): Athletics CFO leads finance/operations, budgeting, controls, sustainability, campus partnerships, revenue growth, and NCAA NIL strategy. More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director for Development (University of the Pacific / Stockton, CA): The Associate Athletic Director for Development leads Athletics fundraising with a primary focus on securing major gifts. More details HERE.

Director of Social Media (United States Naval Academy / Annapolis, MD): The NAAA is hiring a Director of Social Media who will develop and implement plans for department-wide use and advising the department on best strategies. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of VFL Films (Men's Basketball) (University of Tennessee / Knoxville, TN): The position will serve as a video content creator for Tennessee Athletics with an emphasis on Men's Basketball, as well as other department initiatives as assigned by VFL Films. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of VFL Films (Volleyball) (University of Tennessee / Knoxville, TN): The position will serve as a video content creator for Tennessee Athletics with an emphasis on Women's Volleyball, as well as other department initiatives as assigned by VFL Films. More details HERE.

Director of Photography, Athletics (Wake Forest University / Winston-Salem, NC): This position will provide leadership, organization, and direction for Wake Forest Athletics photography, including project management for gameday freelance photography role. More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director - Strategy & Operations (University of North Carolina at Charlotte / Charlotte, NC): The Deputy AD–Strategy & Operations is a core member of the leadership team to the Director of Athletics, managing daily operations of the AD’s office and executing departmental priorities. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Charlotte? Click HERE.

Director of Social Media, Women’s Basketball / Media Specialist II (T0001) (Longwood University / Farmville, VA): Drive the digital presence of Longwood Women’s Basketball by creating engaging social media, video, photo, and graphic content that elevates the program and its student-athletes. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Broadcasting and Video Services (Stetson University / DeLand, FL): Supports the effective operation of all aspects of broadcast video production, in-venue video display, and related services. More details HERE.

Senior Director of Strategic Communications (American Conference / Irving, TX): The Senior Director of Strategic Communications serves as the conference’s primary strategic communications leader and day-to-day media spokesperson More details HERE.

Athletic Creative Content Graduate Assistant (Ball State University / Muncie, IN): GA for Graphic Design/Multimedia to generate social media and website content for BSU Athletics. More details HERE.

Sports Information Graduate Assistant (Ball State University / Muncie, IN): GA position in Sports Information/Media Relations. Will serve as primary sports information director, for two BSU sports programs (likely soccer/softball). More details HERE.

Senior Multimedia Designer (University of Virginia / Charlottesville, VA): The Senior Designer crafts & tells the visual story of Virginia Athletics and each of its 27 sport programs and external constituencies with a focus on digital marketing, recruiting, & branding. More details HERE.

Director of Strategic Resource & Cap Management (Purdue University / West Lafayette, IN): Responsible for the administration of student-athlete revenue sharing agreements. Admin for CAPS system ensuring correct & timely payments of revenue sharing agreements through the B1G Conference. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Athletics Marketing (Eastern Michigan University / Ypsilanti, MI): This position serves as the marketing and game presentation lead for assigned sports, which includes comprehensive efforts related to social media, advertising, and promotional planning. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director - Social Media Strategy & Content (Illinois State University / Normal, IL): This position will oversee all social media strategy for ISU Athletics, and control all of the athletics accounts. More details HERE.

Manager of Digital Marketing and Advertising (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): This position is responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing email campaigns to drive ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, fundraising, retail sales, and customer engagement. More details HERE.

Athletics Business Operations Coordinator (University of Miami / Coral Gables, FL): Reporting to the Director of Business Operations, within the Department of Athletics, this role serves as a key resource in ensuring compliance, efficiency, and accuracy across business functions. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics Communications (James Madison University / Harrisonburg, VA): JMU Athletics is seeking a Director of Athletics Communications to lead the JMU Athletics Communications team in executing strategies for the betterment of the JMU Athletics brand More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (Syracuse University / Syracuse, NY): Syracuse University Athletics is seeking a bold, innovative, and fan-centric leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Syracuse? Click HERE.

Account Executive, Ticket Sales (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Fuel the future of Arizona Athletics by driving ticket sales, growing fan engagement, and delivering exceptional service from first contact to game day. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director of Marketing and Fan Experience (Utah State University / Logan, UT): This position develops and implements strategic marketing plans to increase attendance and revenue while enhancing the fan experience through game scripting, production and in-game entertainment. More details HERE.

Strategic Communications Assistant (University of North Carolina at Charlotte / Charlotte, NC): The Charlotte 49ers are seeking a highly-motivated, organized individual to serve an internship in the area of Strategic Communications for the 2026-27 academic year. More details HERE.

Athletics Director of Business Operations and Finance (Wichita State University / Wichita, KS): Responsible for leading revenue generation, partnerships, and operational strategy to maximize performance, strengthen collaboration, & align execution with the Athletics Department’s operating model. More details HERE.