Keli Zinn Aims for Rapid Growth in NIL, Revenue Growth at Rutgers

Keli Zinn hasn't been in the role of Athletic Director at Rutgers for long, having just started in August. But she has big plans for where the Scarlet Knights can be quickly. Her $1.35 million yearly contract marks a first: bringing major college sports know-how to the program's top spot.

Within eight weeks, she packed in 337 talks across the school's 22 sports teams. "We don't have time to waste time," Zinn said, according to NJ.com.

She's pushing hard to build up name, image, and likeness support at Rutgers. Working with Todd Knisley, who runs revenue and operations, she'll soon add staff focused just on NIL matters. Watch for big news this month.

The start couldn't have gone better with football coach Greg Schiano. After Rutgers beat Ohio 34-31 in the season's first game, Schiano gave her the winning ball right there in the team room.

At LSU, where she spent three years running operations, teams won four national titles. Scott Woodward, LSU's Athletic Director, put it plain: "She succeeded in everything she did and every measurement you could have in helping build and continue to maintain excellence in our department."

Her path started at West Virginia University. Over 11 years, she climbed from watching rules to running the show. In 2014, she made waves as their first woman to lead athletics, even if just for a short time.

Coach Meredith Civico points out how Zinn cares about every sport. "We want to do big things in football and basketball and we've got amazing coaches, but I think she's also coming in and looking at the programs that don't always get everything they need to be competitive at the highest level, and she's all in when it comes to those sports as well," Civico said.

Back in Petersburg, West Virginia, population 2,000, young Zinn broke barriers as the first girl in Grant County Little League baseball. Smart and driven, she won several scholarships to West Virginia University before jumping into sports management.

Gordon Gee, who ran West Virginia University, sees big things ahead, “She has a spine of steel and a great sense of humor. That is a great combination for an athletic director. I hope the Big Ten is ready for her, because she is a dynamo.”