Kevin Barefoot opened the second annual Teamworks Mega Session at NACDA 2025 by sharing early insights into NIL payment distribution trends powered by Teamworks Wallet. He also unveiled an initial look at how revenue sharing is evolving across teams and position groups—offering a data-informed glimpse into the future of college athletics.

From there, the session transitioned into two high-impact panels featuring a current football General Manager and two sitting Athletic Directors. Their candid perspectives brought practical context to the broader financial and operational shifts happening across the industry.

The full session video and presentation are available below.

Redefining the GM Role: Andrew Warsaw, South Florida

We began with Andrew Warsaw, who shared his unique path to becoming the General Manager at South Florida. He highlighted the initiative it took to establish the role and how it reflects the shifting responsibilities in today’s collegiate athletics departments.

Warsaw emphasized his commitment to student-athlete education, helping them navigate new dynamics of NIL, revenue sharing, and professionalization within college sports.

His biggest challenge: Managing the growing influence of agents—a critical pressure point for administrators navigating this new terrain.

Leadership Perspectives: ADs Martin Jarmond & Mitch Barnhart

We then transitioned into an engaging conversation with Martin Jarmond (UCLA) and Mitch Barnhart (Kentucky), focusing on how athletic departments must evolve to meet today’s pace of change.

Mitch Barnhart: Structural Innovation for the Future

Barnhart discussed Champions Blue, Kentucky’s new LLC model designed to enable:

• Public-private partnerships
• New revenue streams
• Opportunities for external investment
  

He advocated for athletic departments to adopt more nimble, corporate-style structures that allow for faster decision-making and better positioning in an unpredictable environment.

Martin Jarmond: Curiosity Fuels Transformation

Jarmond drove home the mindset needed to succeed:

“Dynamic change requires peak curiosity.”

He illustrated how UCLA is applying that philosophy by bringing in Daniel Cruz, a former Disney executive, to reimagine the fan experience. From premium seating renovations at the Rose Bowl and Pauley Pavilion to partnering with a new ticketing agency, UCLA is designing experiences that drive both revenue and deep fan engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Athletic departments are reevaluating their structure, roles, and partnerships to thrive in the revenue-sharing era.
• New leadership roles like the GM are essential for managing NIL, athlete support, and external relationships.
• Innovation requires more than change—it requires curiosity, speed, and bold moves.