Athletics, SAMCO Appoint Dann Kabala as VP, R NIL
Jan 20 | General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Athletics and Scarlet Assets Management Company (SAMCO) have announced the appointment of Dann Kabala as Vice President, R NIL, a key leadership role focused on advancing the University's Name, Image and Likeness strategy and expanding opportunities for Scarlet Knight student-athletes.
Kabala brings more than two decades of experience across collegiate athletics, roster management, player relations, recruiting operations, and NIL management. He joins Rutgers from Penn State, where he most recently served as Director of Player Relations (Revenue Share/NIL) for football. In that role, he led NIL strategy, negotiated player agreements, supported NIL budget planning and helped position the Nittany Lions as a national leader in student-athlete revenue generation.
"My wife and I are very excited to join the Rutgers community at this pivotal time in college athletics," said Kabala. "I look forward to using my experiences from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and NFL to help Keli Zinn, Todd Knisley, and Lisa Tirrell continue their innovative approach to build a world-class NIL program for the student-athletes and supporters of Rutgers Athletics. We have an opportunity to create something special, and I can't wait to get to work."
"Dann brings the experience, credibility, and strategic vision required to lead in today's collegiate athletics landscape," said Executive Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating and Revenue Officer Todd Knisley. "He has a proven ability to align student-athletes, partners, and platforms around a clear strategy all while elevating brand awareness, driving sustainable revenue, and delivering measurable return on investment. His leadership strengthens our approach to creating high impact opportunities for our student-athletes and positions R NIL for continued success in an increasingly competitive environment."
At Rutgers, Kabala will oversee the R NIL program, working closely with Athletics leadership, SAMCO, marketing, communications, development and external partners to build a comprehensive NIL ecosystem that supports student-athlete brand growth, education and long-term value creation. His role will be central to aligning NIL efforts with the department's broader branding, fan engagement and revenue objectives.
During his time at Penn State, Kabala played a critical role in securing major donor commitments, expanding NIL participation and supporting teams that consistently competed at the highest level, including a College Football Playoff semi-final appearance and New Year's Six bowl games. In addition to overseeing the football program's revenue share and NIL department, Kabala also managed the 5th quarter/player development program, which focuses on life skills, academics, career prep and personal growth beyond football.
Prior to his time at PSU, Kabala served as director of player personnel at Pitt from 2012 through 2017. With the Panthers, he oversaw the recruiting department, managing its budget and coordinating travel logistics for all official and unofficial visits. He also assisted with the program's transition into the ACC. Kabala also served as the assistant director of football operations/recruiting & eligibility at the University of Arkansas from 2009-12 where he helped build the 2011 team that finished ranked No. 5 in the country.
Kabala holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in sports marketing and management from Indiana University.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth-oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
Kabala brings more than two decades of experience across collegiate athletics, roster management, player relations, recruiting operations, and NIL management. He joins Rutgers from Penn State, where he most recently served as Director of Player Relations (Revenue Share/NIL) for football. In that role, he led NIL strategy, negotiated player agreements, supported NIL budget planning and helped position the Nittany Lions as a national leader in student-athlete revenue generation.
"My wife and I are very excited to join the Rutgers community at this pivotal time in college athletics," said Kabala. "I look forward to using my experiences from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and NFL to help Keli Zinn, Todd Knisley, and Lisa Tirrell continue their innovative approach to build a world-class NIL program for the student-athletes and supporters of Rutgers Athletics. We have an opportunity to create something special, and I can't wait to get to work."
"Dann brings the experience, credibility, and strategic vision required to lead in today's collegiate athletics landscape," said Executive Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating and Revenue Officer Todd Knisley. "He has a proven ability to align student-athletes, partners, and platforms around a clear strategy all while elevating brand awareness, driving sustainable revenue, and delivering measurable return on investment. His leadership strengthens our approach to creating high impact opportunities for our student-athletes and positions R NIL for continued success in an increasingly competitive environment."
At Rutgers, Kabala will oversee the R NIL program, working closely with Athletics leadership, SAMCO, marketing, communications, development and external partners to build a comprehensive NIL ecosystem that supports student-athlete brand growth, education and long-term value creation. His role will be central to aligning NIL efforts with the department's broader branding, fan engagement and revenue objectives.
During his time at Penn State, Kabala played a critical role in securing major donor commitments, expanding NIL participation and supporting teams that consistently competed at the highest level, including a College Football Playoff semi-final appearance and New Year's Six bowl games. In addition to overseeing the football program's revenue share and NIL department, Kabala also managed the 5th quarter/player development program, which focuses on life skills, academics, career prep and personal growth beyond football.
Prior to his time at PSU, Kabala served as director of player personnel at Pitt from 2012 through 2017. With the Panthers, he oversaw the recruiting department, managing its budget and coordinating travel logistics for all official and unofficial visits. He also assisted with the program's transition into the ACC. Kabala also served as the assistant director of football operations/recruiting & eligibility at the University of Arkansas from 2009-12 where he helped build the 2011 team that finished ranked No. 5 in the country.
Kabala holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in sports marketing and management from Indiana University.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth-oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
Wrestling Post Match Press Conference - Michigan
Saturday, January 17
Steve Pikiell Podcast; OT Wins & the Upcoming Midwest Trip
Friday, January 16
Giving Back N.I.L.: Darren Buchanan Jr. Honored with the 2025 Stan Musial Scholarship Award
Wednesday, January 14
Men’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Northwestern
Monday, January 12
