Tom Jacobs named CEO and Executive Director of the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame
The College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame has selected seasoned college sports administrator and executive Tom Jacobs as its new CEO and Executive Director.
Jacobs has an extensive background in collegiate athletics, most recently as the Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the Atlantic 10 Conference. He is the co-founder of SP Athletics, a consulting firm specializing in sports recruiting, executive search, consulting and leadership development.
“When the Board embarked on a national search to fill this position, we identified key characteristics of the person we wanted to lead us into our next exciting chapter: strong relationships within the baseball community at all levels, an entrepreneurial spirit, a visionary and strategic mindset coupled with operational excellence,” said Craig Ramsey, Chair of the College Baseball Foundation Board of Directors. “We recognized those traits when we asked him to be a member of the Board in 2020. But his talent goes far beyond the characteristics we identified – he is the perfect person for a unique time in our organization’s history.”
Earlier this year, the College Baseball Foundation announced Overland Park, Kan., as the new home for the College Baseball Hall of Fame, which was made possible in collaboration with VisitOP and two-time Super Bowl champion, former Texas Tech baseball player and community leader Patrick Mahomes. In his role on the CBF Board, Jacobs has led or has played a key role in several projects, including CBF’s national search for finding a partner for the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the Foundation’ strategic plan, the Annual Night of Champions and, most recently, the process to determine the Hall of Fame’s partner for the design and buildout of the museum-ready space at the Museum at Prairiefire.
“Throughout the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of sports in society and the influence that athletes have on their teams, their schools, their families and their communities,” said Jacobs. “I welcome the opportunity to advance the CBF by elevating the stories of the former and current college baseball players who are influencing the players of the future. It is a true privilege to be surrounded by not only great players but also great people. I want to thank our Chair and Vice-Chair, Craig Ramsey, Rick Greesnpan and the Board of Trustees, and I look forward to continuing to build on the great foundation that has been provided by Mike Gustafson and those in Lubbock, Texas who founded the organization.”
Comments from Tom’s colleagues:
Bernadette V. McGlade, Commissioner of the Atlantic 10 said, “Tom has been a true asset to the A-10 Conference. He led our Championships programs with integrity and skilled administrative decision making. I am thrilled for Tom and Lori for this great opportunity to get back to the Midwest to be near family. Tom is an outstanding choice to lead the College Baseball Foundation/Hall of Fame!”
Patrick McEnroe, President, International Tennis Hall of Fame and tennis commentator added, "Tom Jacobs is a home run for the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame. He did an outstanding job leading our team at USTA Player Development. Tom is a class act and leads with the utmost in character, discipline, and integrity – he is a five-tool player."
“The selection of Tom Jacobs continues the exciting trajectory of the Hall of Fame. Tom’s experience and acumen will be invaluable as the College Baseball Hall of Fame enters the design build phase of this transformational project in Overland Park. We are excited to welcome him to our community,” said Warren Wilkinson, President and CEO, Visit OP.
Fred Merrill, Jr., President of the Merrill Companies and CEO and Chairman, Museum of Prairiefire Foundation welcomes Tom in his new role: “We look forward to working with Tom and his Board as the College Baseball Hall of Fame becomes a landmark addition to the Museum as well as support its mission in communities around the nation.”
Jacobs has been a college sports leader in several capacities – at the institutional level at the University of California, Berkeley, as a conference administrator at the Big Eight Conference (now the Big XII Conference), the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and the Atlantic 10 Conference and at the association and national level serving in roles at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). In 2008, Tom was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame and was presented with the Jim Fullerton Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) in 2009. His full bio is available here.
About the College Baseball Foundation:
The College Baseball Foundation’s purpose is to preserve, elevate and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today. The College Baseball Hall of Fame is an important part of educating, preserving and celebrating college baseball. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
The CBF’s Night of Champions will be held again in Overland Park, Kan., on Feb. 13, 2025. This is a signature event for all of college baseball featuring the induction of the 2024 College Baseball Hall of Fame class who will be announced in September. Sixteen classes have been inducted since the first ceremony in 2006 and recognizes players, coaches, administrators and contributors to college baseball at all levels.