Rutgers Athletics has announced
two new roles to support its NIL infrastructure, just one day after adding Maggie Long as Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Athletics Development. Chris Chung has been appointed Senior Associate Athletic Director, Revenue and Contract Management, while PJ Mullen was elevated to Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Marketing, Fan Experience, and Brand Strategy.Chung was previously a contract attorney to the Rutgers athletic department, where he drafted,
structured, and negotiated revenue share agreements for the university. In addition, he advised on NIL compliance and contributed to internal policies to help govern revenue share agreements.
Chris earned three degrees from Notre Dame, with an undergraduate degree in sociology and pre-medicine, before getting his Juris Doctor and MBA from the university. He began his career as a corporate associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which is the world’s highest-grossing law firm. At Kirkland & Ellis, he advised private equity sponsors on mergers and acquisitions and debt financing transactions, with a focus on the tech industry.
Chung then shifted to becoming a corporate associate at Polsinelli PC, where he advised major clients throughout the sports and entertainment industries, including supporting the Big 12 Conference through their commissioner search and realignment efforts and providing counsel to the Kansas City Chiefs on partnership agreements.
In his new role, Chung will manage internal NIL agreements and lead contract negotiations and serve as a liaison for external NIL opportunities. He will oversee the cap management system and make sure that Rutgers is compliant with NIL governance and their allocated NIL funds. Chung will also forecast both short and long-term projections for revenue distributions, as it is now legal for universities to pay athletes directly due to the House vs. NCAA settlement.
PJ Mullen joined the athletic department in 2021 and has played a big role in transforming the Rutgers gameday experience that we all know and love. He has been in charge of marketing, game presentation, and fan experience staff for all 24 of Rutgers’ sports teams.
Mullen and his team serve as the department leads for the spirit and mascot teams, as well as for the Marching Scarlet Knights. He also assists with men’s basketball sports administrator duties. Under his guidance, the university debuted the Rutgers Boardwalk and Rutgers Winter Village, which have taken over the pregame experience for football and basketball games.
From the food trucks and rides lining the boardwalk to the incredible light shows and performances from the marching band and spirit teams, Mullen has led the charge when it comes to making the gameday experience as incredible as it is. With his additional duties, he will now lead Rutgers Athletics’ NIL branding strategy by using his expertise in advertising and promotion that enhances both fan engagement and student-athlete visibility. He will also work to create strategic partnerships and campaigns that will elevate the brand value of student-athletes.
Here is what Keli Zinn said about both hires.
“Chris has played a key role for the department in managing revenue share agreements and we are excited to bring him on board in such an important role at this pivotal moment for Rutgers. His combination of legal acumen and business strategy is a major strength and will prove vital for our continued work to recruit and retain the best talent in the country.”
“PJ’s track record of building innovative marketing strategies and expertise in brand development will be instrumental in our NIL strategy. He has demonstrated the creativity, work ethic and forward thinking necessary to lead in our rapidly evolving world of college sports. This promotion reflects the tremendous impact he’s already had and our confidence in his vision moving forward. “
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