Selmon named to prestigious SBJ Forty Under 40 Class of 2023
Zac Selmon
Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon has been selected to Sports Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Class of 2023. The prestigious accolade honors 40 individuals under 40 years of age whose work and accomplishments are driving sports business to new heights. Representing teams and leagues, agencies and media companies, and working across sectors such as finance, law, sports betting and analytics, the class exemplifies excellence in the industry.
Selmon and all 2023 Forty Under 40 honorees will be featured in the June 26 issue of SBJ. They will also be recognized at the annual Forty Under 40 gala on Oct. 20 at The Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
This is the 24th year of SBJ's Forty Under 40 program.
Selmon was hired as MSU's 18th athletics director last January. A fast-rising star in collegiate athletics administration, Selmon arrived in Starkville on the heels of stints helping lead two other Power Five universities.
Selmon previously worked at the University of Oklahoma from 2015 until his hiring at State. In his time with the Sooners, Selmon began as senior associate athletics director/chief of operations before eventually being elevated to OU's deputy athletics director for external engagement and advancement.
Selmon's responsibilities and accomplishments with Oklahoma were many. As deputy athletics director, he led OU Athletics' stakeholder relations including the Sooner Club and annual giving. He also provided sport oversight for football and led strategic communications, marketing, licensing, multi-media rights, brand management and fan engagement.
Among Selmon's successes at Oklahoma were his involvement in the fundraising strategy for OU Athletics' $200 million capital campaign, which set annual giving records in 2018 and 2019. Also, in 2020, philanthropic giving was at its highest point in university athletics history.
Prior to working at Oklahoma, Selmon was the associate athletics director and special assistant to the athletics director at the University of North Carolina over the course of the 2014-15 academic year. At UNC, Selmon's duties included monitoring and tracking the athletics department's strategic plan, representing the athletics director at meetings and on committees, assisting with internal communications, serving as liaison with external groups such as the ACC, NCAA and NACDA, and administering the department's executive and senior staff meetings.
Selmon's career in athletics administration began as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 2009. Before eventually leaving and returning to the Sooners, Selmon got his feet wet as an assistant director of development, associate director of development and director of capital gifts.
The foundation of Selmon's career was laid in part during his own college days. He was a four-year starter at tight end for the Wake Forest football team. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in religion and international studies. He also holds a 2010 OU master's degree in education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletics administration.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
Joel Coleman | HailState.com
