FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 23, 2025) – The Big Sky Conference and Teamworks have announced a long-term extension to their league-wide partnership, further expanding on the commitment by member institutions to equip each campus with top-of-the-line technology and provide its student-athletes with the tools to navigate today’s world of college athletics.
The enhanced relationship includes all current and incoming Big Sky institutions renewing Teamworks Influencer, the industry’s leading platform for NIL and personal brand-building, as well as 12 member schools adopting Teamworks’ core products—Hub, Academics, and Nutrition—with several of them also expanding into Teamworks’ General Manager to assist with revenue sharing.
“The Big Sky’s unified commitment to our student-athletes puts us in a class of our own, and we eagerly embrace new technology that can help us reach our goals,” Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “We already have seen firsthand how Teamworks empowers our institutions, from streamlining communication and operations to helping student-athletes build their brands in the NIL era. This expansion of our partnership reflects our values and vision and paves a pathway for future success.”
Before this most recent addition to the partnership, the Big Sky was solely in the business of league-wide agreements for Teamworks Influencer and the Influencer Exchange, which launched conversations of how the league could further assist each campus streamline their day-to-day processes.
The Big Sky’s recommitment to Teamworks Influencer follows a year of strong engagement and continued investment in NIL education. At the conference’s Football Media Day, Teamworks led sessions designed to help student-athletes better understand the NIL landscape and how to leverage Influencer to enhance their personal brands and long-term opportunities.
“You could see the athletes leaning in—not a single phone out, fully engaged,” said Senior Director of Communication Bryson Lester. “They left energized, knowing that both the Big Sky and Teamworks have their backs while they navigate this new era.”
This extended partnership represents a significant elevation beyond a traditional renewal. The participating Big Sky members opting into the integrated Teamworks technology gain access to a unified communication, operations, and scheduling platform that simplifies team management and enhances collaboration across departments. Additionally, four schools have also added Teamworks General Manager to help navigate revenue sharing by streamlining financial operations, scholarship modeling, and roster planning.
“We’re not just adopting tools; we’re building an infrastructure that supports our student-athletes and administrators holistically,” Wistrcill added. “When our campuses—and all of the teams within each Big Sky athletic department—are operating from the same playbook, we gain efficiency, share best practices, and stay focused on what matters most: the student-athlete experience.”
Athletic directors and senior leaders across Big Sky institutions have expressed strong support for the expanded partnership, recognizing the operational efficiencies, enhanced collaboration, and student-athlete benefits made possible through Teamworks’ integrated technology platform.
“Teamworks has been a game-changer for us,” shared Northern Arizona Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Uri Farkas. “Add in the power of Influencer, and you’re equipping athletes and administrators alike with tools to succeed in this new era.”
As college athletics evolves, the Big Sky’s bold move reflects a new era of conference-led innovation. With a data-driven approach and clear focus on student-athlete outcomes, the Big Sky is showing how technology can elevate every level of the athletic department—from compliance to content, branding to budgeting.
“This is what leadership looks like,” said Kevin Barefoot, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Teamworks. “The Big Sky isn’t just talking about innovation—they’re executing it, and in doing so, setting the benchmark for all other FCS conferences.”
To learn more about how Teamworks helps conferences and institutions streamline operations, empower student-athletes, and future-proof their departments, visit
teamworks.com.
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