Rutgers Athletics has made another hire in conjunction with SAMCO, appointing Dann Kabala as the Vice President of RNIL. Kabala will oversee the R NIL program at Rutgers, working closely with Athletics leadership, SAMCO, marketing, communications, development, and external partners.
“My wife and I are very excited to join the Rutgers community at this pivotal time in college athletics,” said Kabala in the official press release. “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.”
Kabala most recently served as Director of Player Relations (Revenue Share/NIL) for football, where he led NIL strategy, negotiated player agreements, and supported NIL budget planning. He played an important role in securing major donor commitments, expanding NIL participation, and supporting Penn State football teams that competed in New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games. Kabala also managed the 5th quarter/player development program, focusing on life skills, academics, career prep, and personal growth beyond football.
Before Penn State, Kabala served as the assistant director of football operations/recruiting & eligibility at the University of Arkansas from 2009-12, where he helped construct the 2011 team that finished ranked No. 5 in the country. Kabala served as director of player personnel at Pitt from 2012 through 2017, overseeing the recruiting department, managing its budget, and coordinating travel logistics for all official and unofficial visits.
“Dann brings the experience, credibility, and strategic vision required to lead in today’s collegiate athletics landscape,” said 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.”
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