The new AD replaces Mack Rhoades, who resigned last month after nine years for personal reasons. Rhoades had also been chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
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McNamee was Baylor’s senior associate director of external affairs in 2018, when he left to become president of Waco-based Magnolia, the nationally recognized media and lifestyle company founded by Baylor alumni Chip and Joanna Gaines. He left Magnolia in 2022 to become president of the reinvented Field & Stream with country music stars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen as investors.
“My connection to Baylor University runs deep and its culture, history and expectations have profoundly shaped my life,” McNamee said in a statement. “I believe the breadth of my experiences has prepared me for this moment at Baylor and within the changing landscape of college athletics. Entering corporate leadership has allowed me to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, hunger and financial discipline necessary to thrive in the current environment and into the future. Returning to my alma mater in this capacity is a profound honor and responsibility. I do not take it lightly.”
In his previous tenure at Baylor, McNamee was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-oriented units, including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticket sales. He played a key role in fundraising, planning and opening McLane Stadium more than a decade ago.
McNamee began his career at IMG College and rose to general manager of Baylor’s multimedia portfolio, where he led sponsorship strategy, partnership development and revenue optimization. He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Baylor in 2003 and two years later earned a master’s degree in sports management from the school.
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At Field & Stream, McNamee has led the revitalization of the 154-year-old outdoor brand into a modern, multi-platform consumer lifestyle and media company. He guided the entire product, media, retail and content strategy while positioning the company for long-term omnichannel growth. At Magnolia, he led business strategy across media, retail, hospitality, e-commerce and partnerships.
“Doug’s familiarity with Baylor and his recent experience as CEO of two national media and lifestyle companies will serve him well as we prioritize growing revenue, expanding NIL’s external opportunities for our student-athletes and growing our brand in this new era of college athletics, while engaging our passionate fan base,” said Baylor President Linda Livingstone, who previously served as chair of the NCAA Board of Governors and Board of Trustees. of the Big 12.
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