Vanderbilt hires former Oklahoma City Thunder executive to lead its efforts in response to the NCAA’s more professionalized model.
Vanderbilt has announced the hiring of Amanda Green to help navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics. Green will serve as Associate General Counsel, with a primary focus on working alongside the athletics department on NIL and revenue-sharing initiatives.
Starting next season, college sports will shift toward a more professionalized model that includes revenue-sharing. Under the preliminary House v. NCAA settlement, schools that opt in will be allowed to distribute up to $20.5 million in NIL revenue-sharing payments to athletes for the 2025-26 season.
Additionally, the NCAA has granted itself authority to audit NIL collective contracts to ensure compliance with pay-for-play regulations. These changes are designed to bring athlete compensation under the control of athletic departments rather than third-party NIL collectives. With only months until implementation, schools must act quickly to establish infrastructure for managing athlete compensation, valuation, negotiations, and spending limits.
According to Vanderbilt’s announcement, Green’s role will encompass negotiating agreements, advising on partnerships, overseeing NIL activities, and addressing evolving legislation and legal issues.
Green brings extensive experience to the position, having spent over a decade in NBA front offices. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Team Counsel and Strategic Alignment for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee praised Green’s appointment, stating, “Amanda Green embodies our laser-focused commitment to meeting the moment and leading the way forward for college athletics… She’s helped shape championship environments from the bench to the boardroom and understands how successful organizations embrace opportunity by working together to maximize potential.”
Green’s hiring aligns with a growing trend of colleges recruiting professional sports executives to assist in the NCAA’s shift away from amateurism.
She is the third Power 4 front-office hire in two weeks with ties to Sam Presti’s Oklahoma City Thunder operations. Notably, former Thunder scout Andrew Slater recently joined NC State as general manager, while amateur talent evaluator Corey Evans took on a similar GM role at Cincinnati.
As more colleges build professional-style front offices, NBA and NFL teams may face a busy offseason replacing staff members transitioning to the collegiate level.
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