Ben Jay finished his second year as chief financial officer and chief of staff for The Big West, joining the conference staff in July 2020.
Jay, who brings over 25 years of collegiate athletics experience and was most recently the Executive Director of the California Youth Soccer Association. He previously served as Director of Athletics at Academy of Art University and the University of Hawai'i, and served as a deputy administrator and chief financial officer for nearly 19 years at The Ohio State University and the Pacific-10 Conference.
At the University of Hawai'i, Ben Jay oversaw 145 staff members and coaches along with the nearly 500 student-athletes who competed for the Rainbow Warriors and Wahine's 21 sports. His time was highlighted by increasing the department grade point average over 3.0+ for three years, improving the graduation success rate by 10 points, negotiating multi-million dollar radio and television rights agreements, and the construction and renovation of facilities. Jay was involved in all facets of financial planning, budget management, strategic planning, compliance, fundraising, as well as sport administration of football, men and women’s basketball, and softball.
Before assuming his position at UH, Jay served a six-year tenure as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Financial Officer at The Ohio State University. He headed the financial oversight of the athletics department’s $140 million operating budget.
Jay was responsible for the department’s internal operations with oversight of the athletics business office, business operations, athletic facilities, event management and football game day operations, human resources, information technology, and direct oversight of the OSU Golf Course, Jack Nicklaus Museum, and the OSU Ice Rink. Additionally, Jay directed the planning, design, and construction of 16 LEED Silver facility projects for the athletics department’s Athletic Village District.
Prior to Ohio State, he served 13 years as the then-Pac-10 Conference's Associate Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer. Jay was directly responsible for Conference budget administration and expenditure control, financial accounting and related NCAA financial reports, investment, and distribution of Conference revenues from various sources. He also oversaw the administration of Conference office operations and human resource duties.
Before joining the Pac-10, Jay worked five years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Business and Finance at Fairfield University in Connecticut. He was responsible for the budget development and expenditure controls for 17 varsity sports, eight club sports, and the recreation and intramural program while also assisting with strategic planning for the athletics department.
Jay earned two degrees from Ohio State, including a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance in 1981 and a master's degree in Athletics Administration in 1989. Between degrees, he spent time as general manager for the Redwood Pioneers, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and then was director of operations for the Cleveland Indians. After receiving his master's degree, Jay became the assistant athletics director at Fairfield before moving on to the Pac-10.