NOTE: The #NACDA26 General Manager Programming Track is open to ALL NACDA & Affiliates Convention attendees.  If you are a general manager interested in attending and are not already registered for the Convention, please fill out THIS FORM and a member of the NACDA staff will follow up with you to assist in your registration.

CLEVELAND (May 4, 2026) – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) today announced a new, specialized educational programming track for 2026 NACDA & Affiliates Convention attendees that is geared toward general managers (GMs) in intercollegiate athletics. The sessions, hosted by the NFL and designed intentionally for GMs, are scheduled from 1-4 p.m. PT, on Monday, June 8.
 
"The NFL is excited to collaborate with NACDA in developing these intentionally designed educational sessions for leaders across collegiate athletics," said Kimberly Fields, NFL SVP of Football Business & Innovation Strategy. "This new programming track is focused on empowering general managers and campus leaders with practical leadership insights to work effectively with student-athletes, building teams and organizing high-performing departments. By convening experienced leaders from across the sports industry, these sessions will help shape the next generation of athletics department leadership."
 
"This new general manager programming at the Convention will help lay the foundation for an area of our industry that is rapidly growing and driving the evolution of collegiate athletics," said NACDA Chief Executive Officer Pat Manak. "Coming together with the NFL to educate NACDA & Affiliates members who are GMs, hiring GMs, or working alongside GMs will help strengthen the efforts of departments across the country for the ultimate benefit of the student-athletes."
 
As the intercollegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve and general managers become integral to program success, these sessions will aim to educate those individuals currently navigating the position as well as leaders who are looking to support and fill these positions on campus. Attendees will hear from GMs in professional sports, athletics directors who have implemented GMs into their departments successfully, and GMs who have established themselves in the collegiate space.
 
Topics and discussion points will include but are not limited to:

• Examining qualities and characteristics of a successful and effective GM
• How GMs approach building rosters, retaining talent and navigating NIL
• Productive negotiation with agents of all backgrounds and experience
• Hiring a staff as a GM and what to look for in a support team
• Transferable principles from the professional to the collegiate ranks in the GM space

Attendees will also have the opportunity to collaborate in a workshop-style environment to share best practices and further discuss the information presented by the panelists.
 
There is no additional fee required to attend the GM Programming Track, but individuals are required to be current members of NACDA or an Affiliate Association and register for the Convention. If you have questions regarding Convention registration or how to join or renew your membership, email membership@nacda.com.
 
For the most up-to-date information regarding #NACDA26, visit nacda.com/convention.
 
About NACDA: Now in its 61st year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 24,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,300 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.