The Big West named Justin Jenkins Assistant Commissioner for Basketball Operations and Finance in
June 2026.
As Assistant Commissioner for Basketball Operations and Finance, Jenkins will serve as the primary sport administrator for men’s and women’s basketball, overseeing conference scheduling initiatives, officiating programs, competitive enhancement strategies and championship operations. Jenkins will also serve as tournament director for the Credit Union 1 Big West Basketball Championships, assist with conference financial operations and provide oversight for additional Big West sports.
As The Big West continues to prioritize the growth and enhancement of its basketball programs, Jenkins will play a key leadership role in advancing conference initiatives focused on competitive excellence, championship experiences, officiating development and strategic planning.
Jenkins joins The Big West from the Big Ten Conference, where he has served as Director of Sports Administration, Events and Operations since September 2023. In that role, Jenkins helped oversee some of the nation’s premier collegiate championships and played an integral role in the administration of Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, media days and scheduling initiatives. Additional responsibilities included championship operations, scheduling, television coordination, venue management, game operations and supporting conference interactions with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, and serving as the primary sport administrator for men’s tennis and men’s soccer.
Prior to the Big Ten, Jenkins served as Assistant Commissioner for Sports Administration and Championships at the Big South Conference, directing multiple conference championships and playing a key role in basketball championship operations, officiating administration and conference governance. Jenkins also worked as Assistant Director for Championships and Business Operations at the Patriot League, managing championship budgets, business operations, financial reporting and NCAA postseason administration.
A former student-athlete, Jenkins played men’s basketball at Gardner-Webb University while earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration while competing for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. The team earned the Big South crown in 2019, falling to eventual national champions Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Jenkins comes from a family with deep athletic roots. His father, Fred Jenkins, played basketball at Tennessee and was selected by the Houston Rockets in the sixth round of the 1987 NBA Draft. His brother, Blake, played collegiately at Belmont.