The Big Sky Conference is setting a new standard for operational excellence and student-athlete support in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) through an expanded, conference-wide partnership with Teamworks. The enhanced relationship includes 12 institutions adopting Teamworks’ core products—Hub, Academics, and C+R—all programs renewing Teamworks Influencer, the industry’s leading platform for NIL and personal brand-building, and several schools expanding into Teamworks’ General Manager as they navigate the next era of revenue sharing.
By making a comprehensive investment in integrated technology, the Big Sky is unifying operations across every facet of its member institutions’ athletic departments. Building on strong historical adoption, the conference is taking a holistic approach—standardizing systems to drive efficiency, collaboration, and student-athlete impact.
“The Big Sky’s unified commitment to our student-athletes puts us in a class of our own, and we eagerly embrace new technology that can help us reach our goals,” Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “We already have seen firsthand how Teamworks empowers our institutions, from streamlining communication and operations to helping student-athletes build their brands in the NIL era. This expansion of our partnership reflects our values and vision and paves a pathway for future success.”
Student-Athlete Impact Drives Investment
The Big Sky’s recommitment to Teamworks Influencer follows a year of strong engagement and continued investment in NIL education. At the conference’s July football media day, Teamworks led sessions designed to help student-athletes better understand the NIL landscape and how to leverage Influencer to enhance their personal brands and long-term opportunities.
“You could see the athletes leaning in—not a single phone out, fully engaged,” said Bryson Lester, who manages the Influencer partnership between Teamworks and the Big Sky. “They left energized, knowing that both the Big Sky and Teamworks have their backs while they navigate this new era.”
By prioritizing student-athlete engagement and real-world outcomes, the Big Sky has positioned itself as a model for how conferences can lead with innovation and purpose.
Comprehensive Expansion, Conference-Wide Efficiency
This extended partnership represents a significant elevation beyond a traditional renewal. The participating Big Sky members opting into the integrated Teamworks technology gain access to a unified communication, operations, and scheduling platform that simplifies team management and enhances collaboration across departments. Additionally, four schools have also added Teamworks General Manager to help navigate revenue sharing by streamlining financial operations, scholarship modeling, and roster planning.
“We’re not just adopting tools; we’re building an infrastructure that supports our student-athletes and administrators holistically,” Wistrcill added. “When our campuses—and all of the teams within each Big Sky athletic department—are operating from the same playbook, we gain efficiency, share best practices, and stay focused on what matters most: the student-athlete experience.”
Trusted by ADs, Validated by Results
Athletic directors and senior leaders across Big Sky institutions have expressed strong support for the expanded partnership, recognizing the operational efficiencies, enhanced collaboration, and student-athlete benefits made possible through Teamworks’ integrated technology platform.
“Teamworks has been a game-changer for us. Add in the power of Influencer, and you’re equipping athletes and administrators alike with tools to succeed in this new era,” shared Northern Arizona Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Uri Farkas.
A Model for What’s Next in College Athletics
As college athletics evolves, the Big Sky’s bold move reflects a new era of conference-led innovation. With a data-driven approach and clear focus on student-athlete outcomes, the Big Sky is showing how technology can elevate every level of the athletic department—from compliance to content, from branding to budgeting.
“This is what leadership looks like,” said Kevin Barefoot, SVP of Business Development at Teamworks. “The Big Sky isn’t just talking about innovation—they’re executing it, and in doing so, setting the benchmark for other FCS conferences.”
To learn more about how Teamworks helps conferences and institutions streamline operations, empower student-athletes, and future-proof their departments, visit https://teamworks.com.
About the Big Sky Conference
Founded in 1963, the Big Sky Conference is a NCAA Division I conference competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Big Sky prides itself on its “#ExperienceElevated” platform that emphasizes the unique traits and lifelong benefits that the conference and its member institutions provide to more than 3,700 student-athletes each year. Conference members have won 13 NCAA championships, including seven in football by five different members as well as six of the last nine Division I men’s cross country titles by NAU.