Todd Knisley serves as Executive Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating and Revenue Officer, bringing more than 15 years of experience in revenue generation, partnerships, and strategic leadership across collegiate and professional sports.
As Executive Deputy AD, COO/CRO at Rutgers, Knisley will serve as principal advisor to the Director of Athletics, ensuring efficient and effective administration across all units of the department, with a focus on fiscal performance, strategic planning, organizational alignment, and operational excellence. He will oversee the daily operations of the athletics department, collaborating with university leadership, senior athletics administration and campus and community partners to support the University’s mission and athletics department goals. Knisley will also serve as the sport administrator for football.
Knisley most recently served as vice president and general manager of Ohio State Sports Properties with Learfield, where he managed one of the largest revenue enterprises in college athletics. His portfolio included multimedia rights, naming rights, ticket sales, Ohio Stadium tours, digital content and name, image and likeness initiatives. Under his leadership, the property experienced unprecedented revenue growth, exceeding its revenue goals in each of the past six years.
Knisley was part of the formation of the Buckeye Sports Group, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support, streamline and enhance NIL opportunities for Ohio State student-athletes. This comprehensive approach helped to elevate all 36 Buckeye sport programs and create a sustainable, best-in-class NIL ecosystem to benefit athletes, brands and the university.
Before Ohio State, Knisley was general manager of Mountaineer Sports Properties at West Virginia University where he guided consistent year-over-year growth. He spent seven years with the Mountaineers, overseeing all sales and operations for the property as associate general manager from 2013-15 before being elevated to the general manager role from 2015-20. He previously held leadership and sales roles at Marshall University, Texas Christian University, the University of Oklahoma and with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
Knisley was named to the prestigious Forty Under 40 list by Sports Business Journal in 2023 and has served as a board member with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission for the past five years.
Knisley earned both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in sport management from West Virginia University, graduating magna cum laude. Knisley and his wife Kelsey are the proud parents to three children – Brooks, Chase and Caroline.
