A focused conversation on how MMR partners and athletics marketing teams can align, communicate, and collaborate to reach shared goals. From sales season launch to mid-year check-ins, this episode highlights practical strategies, common challenges, and ways both sides can work together to maximize revenue, elevate the fan experience, and strengthen the athletics brand.

This discussion takes a deep dive into Influencer Branding at institutions and how to leverage opportunities for our student-athletes while maintaining the branding standards for our department.

Matt Lavery, Associate AD for Marketing and Fan Engagement at Coastal Carolina, will dive into a topic that many departments are wrestling with: the divorce of marketing and fan experience. We’ll explore how different athletics departments are structuring — or restructuring — their teams, what’s driving the shift, and how these models are impacting revenue, collaboration and the in-venue experience. Matt is joined by co-hosts, Sam DeMuzio from Mississippi State and Ashley Terry from Maryland. Today’s guests bring first-hand insight from two departments who have already lived this transition: Jake Stocker, Director of Game Presentation and Fan Experience at Michigan and Jordan Looby, Associate AD of Marketing and Revenue Strategy at Maryland. They’ll walk us through when and why their programs split these units, what’s worked, what hasn’t and what’s next as college athletics continues to evolve.

We’re taking you behind the scenes to show you how new sport-specific logos come to life to elevate the brand and generate incremental revenue. Hear from Lori Burens from the University of Pittsburgh, Suzette McQueen from Kent State University, and Scott Howell from CLC as they break down the creative process, marketing & brand strategy, and execution of new sport-specific logo launches.

This interview is with former NACMA board member Tyler Jones, Deputy AD, Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager at the University of Virginia focused on transferable skills between his experiences in marketing, revenue generation, NIL and player management.