The intersection of collegiate athletics and the legal field is becoming increasingly pronounced as schools navigate complex changes, such as name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals that allow players to profit, and rising litigation demands. John Cunningham, athletic director at the University of Cincinnati, encapsulates this shift. While he initially sought to escape the legal world, he finds himself entrenched in it, reflecting on his past in compliance roles and the escalating presence of legal challenges in college sports.
Peter Bevacqua of the University of Notre Dame and Fred Glass, formerly of Indiana University, exemplify the trend of lawyers ascending to athletic director (AD) roles. Bevacqua’s journey began at Davis Polk & Wardwell, before transitioning to sports business, while Glass found his legal expertise in contract negotiations and risk management invaluable in athletics administration [Faegre Drinker mergers](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/faegrebd-drinker-biddle-to-merge-creating-950m-revenue-firm). These experiences demonstrate how analytical skills developed in law are beneficial in a sector faced with systemic transformation [NCAA antitrust settlements](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/ncaa-power-conferences-agree-to-landmark-antitrust-settlement).
An analysis by Arizona State University law professors supports this movement, indicating that legal backgrounds are becoming increasingly attractive for Division I AD roles in light of the “flood of lawsuits” the NCAA and institutions face. Figures like Raymond Anderson at Arizona State and Desireé Reed-Francois at the University of Arizona reflect the sector’s growing legal orientation [analysis of AD backgrounds](https://athleticdirectoru.com/articles/the-path-to-the-athletic-directors-chair/).
Industry experts such as Andrew Brandt, a Villanova University law professor and ex-general counsel for the Green Bay Packers, suggest that while a law degree is not yet a prerequisite for ADs, the changing business and legal landscape is prompting schools to re-evaluate staffing priorities. Institutions are even considering roles akin to professional team front offices, aimed at handling forthcoming challenges such as revenue-sharing rules for athletes [revenue-sharing challenges](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/colleges-risk-equal-pay-lawsuits-in-sharing-revenue-with-players).
This trend highlights the evolving role of the AD from merely overseeing athletic programs to managing complex legal frameworks and stakeholder relationships. As John Mack, a former sprinter and current Princeton University AD, embraced his role, he represents how athletics’ professionalization demands not only sports acumen but also legal oversight to meet today’s challenges [John Mack’s career path](https://alumni.princeton.edu/stories/john-mack-princeton-athletic-director). The era of NIL deals and resultant legal disputes positions lawyers squarely at the forefront of college sports administration.