Cal Athletics CFO Playbook
A concise framework for leading a public-university athletics enterprise through NIL disruption, conference volatility, and rising fixed costs.
“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
— Dwight D. EisenhowerExecutive Summary
College athletics has entered a structural transition. The CFO role now integrates forecasting discipline, governance alignment, NIL economics, and decision intelligence to stabilize finances and protect institutional credibility.
Reality
Expenses rising faster than earned revenues; increasing reliance on transfers; liquidity pressure.
Risk
Liquidity compression, reputational exposure, donor fatigue, and tactical decision-making.
CFO Model
Scenario budgeting, integrated governance, KPI discipline, capital and fixed-obligation management.
Outcome
Sustainability with credibility; competitive resilience; transparent leadership communication.