Greensboro, NC (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference today announced that Fishbait Solutions will serve as the league’s Chief Revenue and Business Innovation Consultant. The partnership was formed by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Fishbait CEO Rob Temple, who will work closely with conference office staff and key institutional contacts to assist the conference in areas of revenue generation and innovation opportunities.
Fishbait through new and existing partnerships to strategically identify and maximize revenue as well as a variety of projects aimed at developing innovative solutions that add value to ACC student-athletes, sponsored sports, member institutions and the entire convention enterprise will focus on. Fishbait will also assist the Conference Office in maximizing opportunities with the ACC network.
The partnership is a continuation of ACC’s strategic initiatives in various areas, including prioritizing the league around ACC football, ongoing Conference Office review and evaluation, securing ACC network full distribution (December 2021) and direct involvement in the future of college sports. Federal Legislation, NCAA Change Committee and College Football Playoffs, among others.
Prior to today’s announcement, Fishbait has participated in several introductory meetings, including a presentation to the league’s athletic directors. In the coming weeks, Fishbait will hold individual meetings with each of the league’s 15 member schools and their respective leadership teams.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “The Fishbait team, led by Rob Temple, is uniquely qualified and positioned to strategically assist our league in the areas of revenue and business innovation. They understand the corporate and collegiate landscape and how we can deliver significant opportunities. work together to benefit ACC’s approximately 10,000 student athletes and 27 sponsored sports.
“The through line of my career, certainly including my years at ESPN, has been college sports, with a laser focus on unlocking long-term value and revenue for the benefit of all,” said Rob Temple, CEO of Fishbait Solutions. “As a company, we are thrilled to be working with Commissioner Phillips and ACC. And as a lifelong ACC fan – this is personal to me, and we couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead.”
Rob Temple was named CEO of Fishbait Solutions in January 2021 after 18 years at ESPN, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (1988). As the former senior vice president and head of ESPN sports marketing, which included ESPN’s significant college sports portfolio, Temple oversaw a number of significant deals for properties such as ESPN College GameDay built by Home Depot and the college football playoffs. Temple was most recently Senior Vice President Programming and Acquisitions.
On point with Rob Temple would be Rick Crist, a fishbait consultant and a longtime college sports insider who served as commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, ACC assistant commissioner (1992–99) and Notre Dame (US). 1983) both participated in and is an honour. Graduate of Duke Law School (1989). Additionally, Fishbait’s Chief Creative Officer Rick Jones and Fishbait’s Senior Advisor, Pete Derjis will also join the ACC assignment.
Fishbat’s clients include college football playoffs, ESPN events (17 owned and operated bowl games, college basketball events, women’s softball and more), bowl season, National Football Foundation (NFF), National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Huh. Brander Group and others in the college sports space.
About ACC:
The Atlantic Coast Conference, now in its 70th year of competition and 15 member strong, has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the country. ACC members Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest continue to build on those foundations. The league was established in 1953 with a consistent balance of academics, athletics and integrity. The ACC currently sponsors 27 NCAA Games – 14 for women and 13 for men – with member institutions located in 10 states. In August 2019, ESPN and ACC partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network dedicated to ACC sports and league-wide original programming. For more information, visit ACC.com and follow @theACC on Twitter and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
About Fishbait Solutions:
Fishbait Solutions, LLC was founded in early 2021 by Rick Jones, Ron Cook and Rob Temple. By combining existing agencies and decades of experience and connections, the agency counts several national brands as clients. Fishbait sells and activates sponsorships within six divisions: Collegiate Sports, American Heritage, Youth Sports, Country Music, Travel/Food Festivals, and Outdoor Lifestyle. With offices in nine states, it utilizes a dedicated team of experienced strategic marketing and media executives with expertise in marketing, consulting, sales, communications strategy, content production and more.