Brett Yormark, commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, will step down from his position at the end of January, concluding a transformative four-year tenure marked by significant shifts in the college sports landscape. Yormark, who assumed the role in 2022 succeeding Bob Bowlsby, is set to remain in his post until January 31.

The decision to leave comes roughly 18 months after Yormark signed a three-year contract extension intended to keep him in the role through 2030. During his time as commissioner, Yormark led the conference through pivotal developments, including a landmark six-year media rights deal with ESPN and Fox valued at $2.28 billion.

Yormark’s leadership also saw substantial expansion of the Big 12’s membership. Building on groundwork laid by Bowlsby, he oversaw the integration of Brigham Young University, Cincinnati, Houston, and Central Florida into the conference. More recently, following the collapse of the Pac-12, Yormark facilitated the addition of Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, reshaping the conference’s competitive landscape.

His tenure occurred amid a period of broad upheaval across college athletics, driven by factors such as conference realignment and evolving media contracts. The Big 12’s aggressive expansion and lucrative television agreements under Yormark’s guidance have positioned the conference competitively among the nation’s college athletic leagues.

Details regarding Yormark’s future plans or who will succeed him have not been announced. The Big 12 will continue under his leadership for the next three months as it navigates these ongoing changes.