Athletics Tabs Reed Zak To Lead NIL

Rutgers Athletics announced the addition of Reed Zak, who will serve as General Manager to oversee the department's efforts in name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for its student-athletes. Rutgers worked with Altius Sports Partners (ASP) to identify candidates through a nationwide search, analyzing their strengths in sports marketing, partnerships and promotions.

"As a New Jersey native, it's an honor and privilege for me to work alongside Rutgers Athletics," stated Zak. "The tri-state region offers abundant NIL opportunities for Scarlet Knight student-athletes, and the entire Rutgers team acknowledges the advantage this provides in maintaining competitiveness within the Big Ten. Drawing from my background as a student-athlete with professional experience in corporate partnerships, I understand how to connect athletes and brands. I'm excited to utilize Altius's resources to enhance the services accessible to all Rutgers stakeholders."

 "We are delighted to welcome Reed aboard," said Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs. "He is part of our continuing efforts to ensure that our student athletes have every opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness. With so many potential partners in the New York Metropolitan area, it was important to have someone focused every day on promoting Rutgers Athletics and the incredible student-athletes who compete for us."

Zak arrives at Rutgers after spending two years as sales manager with REVELxp, overseeing hospitality sales at Colorado State, Arizona State and Air Force home football games. He set records at CSU and ASU with the most tailgate packages sold in a single season. Prior to joining REVELxp, Zak worked with Learfield IMG College in partnership services on the Providence College campus. He served as an account manager responsible for contract fulfillment and the implementation of sponsorships across several accounts.

A native of New Jersey, Zak earned his bachelor's degree from Monmouth in business administration with a concentration in marketing and management/decision sciences. He completed his MBA at Providence in 2019. Zak worked as a graduate assistant in the marketing department with Providence Athletics, where he was involved in the promotional efforts for men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's ice hockey.

ASP, a trusted advisor to top-tier collegiate athletic programs and sports properties, will train, assist and oversee the newly created on-campus NIL GM at Rutgers. Zak will collaborate with Rutgers to heighten the student-athlete experience by conceptualizing and coordinating programming and resources. In addition, he will raise awareness in the New Jersey community among key business leaders and other external stakeholders about NIL initiatives at Rutgers.

 The ASP GM Program, which launched in July 2022, centralizes support services for NIL, creating a distinct standalone vertical within athletics departments. Rutgers is one of 13 schools, participating in the program. ASP personnel, stationed on campus, offer customized education and guidance on national issues related to NIL, ensuring student-athletes have the best opportunities. ASP prioritizes the development of student-athlete NIL and seeks to collaborate with institutional partners and university supporters. As the GM Program expands, ASP will continue to offer advisory support to all school partners.

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, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.

About Altius Sports Partners

Altius Sports Partners (ASP) is the leading advisor to elite collegiate athletics programs and sports properties, offering strategic planning, compliance support, and education. They provide innovative solutions for topics such as NIL and the evolving landscape of employment and media rights in college athletics. In just three years, ASP has expanded from two school partners to supporting over 30 universities, including almost half of the Power Five. They have launched groundbreaking initiatives like the on-campus NIL GM Program and ASP Academy, and have collaborated with Women Leaders in College Sports, the NFL, NFL Players Association, and NBC Sports Athlete Direct. ASP's goal is to empower all stakeholders with the resources needed to succeed in the new era of college athletics, leveraging their expertise to drive education, access, and excellence. Their diverse team of leaders is committed to raising the bar in the industry.