Rutgers Makes Strategic NIL Move, Hiring Dann Kabala to Lead R NIL Program
Rutgers Athletics is taking a major step forward in the evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), bringing in a seasoned veteran to lead the charge. Dann Kabala has been named Vice President of R NIL by Rutgers Athletics and Scarlet Assets Management Company (SAMCO), a move that signals the Scarlet Knights are serious about building a top-tier NIL program for their student-athletes.
Kabala arrives in Piscataway with more than 20 years of experience across college athletics, including deep involvement in roster management, recruiting, player development, and most importantly, NIL strategy. His most recent stop was at Penn State, where he served as Director of Player Relations (Revenue Share/NIL) for the football program. There, he played a central role in shaping the Nittany Lions’ NIL approach-negotiating player agreements, managing NIL budgets, and helping the program become one of the national leaders in student-athlete revenue generation.
Now, he brings that same blueprint to Rutgers.
“My wife and I are very excited to join the Rutgers community at this pivotal time in college athletics,” Kabala said. “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.”
Kabala isn’t just another administrator moving from one Power Five school to another-he’s a builder. At Penn State, he helped secure major donor commitments, expanded NIL participation across the roster, and supported teams that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals and earned New Year’s Six bowl bids. He also led the 5th Quarter program, which focused on life skills, academics, and personal growth beyond football-a holistic approach that aligns well with Rutgers’ mission to develop student-athletes on and off the field.
Executive Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating and Revenue Officer Todd Knisley praised the hire, noting Kabala’s ability to bring athletes, partners, and platforms together under a unified strategy.
“Dann brings the experience, credibility, and strategic vision required to lead in today’s collegiate athletics landscape,” Knisley said. “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.”
At Rutgers, Kabala will oversee the entire R NIL program. That means working across departments-marketing, communications, development, and external partners-to build a comprehensive NIL ecosystem. His focus will be on helping student-athletes grow their personal brands, gain real-world business experience, and create long-term value, all while aligning with the university’s broader goals around branding, fan engagement, and revenue generation.
Kabala’s resume runs deep. Before his time at Penn State, he was Director of Player Personnel at Pitt from 2012 to 2017, where he ran the recruiting department and helped guide the Panthers through their transition into the ACC.
Prior to that, he was at Arkansas, where he served as Assistant Director of Football Operations/Recruiting & Eligibility from 2009 to 2012. That stretch included helping build the Razorbacks’ 2011 team, which finished the season ranked No. 5 in the country.
He holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in sports marketing and management from Indiana University-credentials that speak to both his business acumen and his deep roots in the sports world.
This move comes at a crucial time for Rutgers, as the NIL era continues to reshape the landscape of college athletics. With Kabala at the helm, the Scarlet Knights are positioning themselves to not just keep pace-but to lead.
And in a Big Ten Conference that’s only getting more competitive, that kind of leadership could make all the difference.