The Business of College Sports: Leadership, Competition & the Future of the Game
Presented By: Old National Bank
Collegiate athletics is bigger—and more complex—than ever before. From navigating NIL and student-athlete recruitment to engaging donors and positioning programs for long-term success, the modern Athletic Director must be both a strategist and a visionary. In this exclusive fireside chat, the University of Michigan’s Athletic Director Warde Manuel shares insights on leading a powerhouse program, managing through seismic industry shifts, and delivering championship-level results—including his role in shaping the first-ever BCS College Football Playoff. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the business of winning in today’s evolving collegiate sports landscape.
Moderator:
President
Old National Bank
Rick Hampson is a hands-on Business Leader with over 26 years of commercial banking experience in large corporate syndicated banking and middle market banking at Old National Bank, Citizens Bank, PNC Bank, Comerica Bank and Brown Brothers Harriman & Company.
Proven experience managing a commercial banking portfolio of corporate clients, guiding strategic market direction and overseeing P&L. Accomplished business development professional, skilled in asset-based lending, finance, middle market, lines of credit, and commercial lending.
Throughout my career I have developed additional experience in investment banking and managing M&A advisory efforts. I am an active community leader and current Board Member for organizations including Gleaners Community Food Bank, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Detroit and Detroit Regional Chamber. M.B.A. from Columbia University Business School in Finance & International Business and B.S. from Boston College in Finance.
Panelists:
Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics
University of Michigan Athletic Department
Warde J. Manuel, Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics since 2016, is a three-time alumnus with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in 1990, a Master's in Social Work in 1993, and an MBA from U-M's Stephen M. Ross School of Business in 2005. A former two-sport athlete, he played football under Bo Schembechler. Manuel has served on several prestigious committees, most recently the College Football Playoff Selection Committee beginning in 2022, and was named chair for 2024. He received the 2024 National Football Foundation's John L. Toner Award.