General Manager, University of Portland Athletics Partnerships

Client: Van Wagner
Industry: Collegiate Athletics / Sports & Entertainment
Location: Portland, Oregon
Search Timeline: July 23 – September 11, 2026

68 Candidates Identified | 39 Interviewed | 6 Presented | 3 Finalists | 1 Placement

The Mandate

Van Wagner engaged Torres Search Partners to identify the next General Manager of University of Portland Athletics Partnerships, responsible for leading the commercial side of the property with an emphasis on corporate sponsorships, revenue growth, strategic partnerships, and relationships across the University and Portland business community.

The mandate required more than an experienced salesperson. The successful candidate needed the commercial ability to grow the property, the leadership presence to represent Van Wagner and the University in the market, and the relationship skills to develop meaningful partnerships throughout the Portland business community.

The Search

Torres Search Partners conducted a targeted search across the Portland sports business market and broader Pacific Northwest.

The search extended beyond candidates already holding General Manager titles. We evaluated leaders from professional sports, collegiate athletics, multimedia rights, corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, sports media, and other revenue-generating organizations.

Candidates were assessed across sponsorship sales and revenue production, leadership capability, size and sophistication of partnerships, knowledge of the Portland market, ability to operate within a collegiate environment, and long-term potential to grow the property.

The result was a deliberately varied candidate slate that included current sports property General Managers, senior corporate partnership executives, and emerging sports business leaders.

The Funnel

68 candidates identified
39 candidates interviewed
6 candidates presented
3 finalists
1 placement

The objective was not simply to generate candidate volume. It was to give Van Wagner a thoroughly vetted group of leaders with different backgrounds and strengths, allowing the organization to make an informed hiring decision.

“I was very impressed with the search. It was a very good pool of candidates and all three finalists interviewed extremely well.”

Athletic Director, University of Portland

The Placement

Van Wagner selected Kevin Tyner, a longtime Portland sports business executive who spent more than 14 years with the Portland Trail Blazers organization.

Kevin brought extensive corporate partnership experience, a track record of developing significant multi-year sponsorship agreements, and deep relationships throughout the Portland sports and business community.

He joined Van Wagner as General Manager of University of Portland Athletics Partnerships in September 2026.

The Result

50 days from search kickoff to placement.

The search launched on July 23. By September 11, Van Wagner had selected its next General Manager from a slate of three finalists.

The result was a successful placement and a leadership team that had the opportunity to evaluate multiple highly qualified candidates before making its final decision.

Torres Search Partners
Executive Search for Complex, Mission-Driven Organizations