Organic Headshots
Ever since the Big Ten Conference began staging a media event to highlight the start of its football season, it has been held in a hotel or conference center. When Diana Sabau arrived at the conference office — Commissioner Kevin Warren hired her to be the Big Ten’s first chief sports officer — she started planning on a football media event that would be held in a football venue. Sabau engineered the move into Lucas Oil Stadium, site of the conference’s championship game.
“We didn’t want this to feel like a job or a duty for the players,” Sabau said. “We wanted to provide an experience for them that they’d always remember.”
It was one of several changes that Sabau delivered for the conference that was founded in 1896. Since she joined the Big Ten in 2021 as the deputy commissioner, Sabau has been a driving force behind finding new and innovative ways to grow the conference. “There’s a lot to be said about history and tradition,” she said. “How can you dig a little deeper and think more strategically about breathing new life into something and making it something people want to be involved in?”
Sabau came to the Big Ten after 20 years at Ohio State, where she played an instrumental role in Athletic Director Gene Smith’s administration, scheduling football games, negotiating highly competitive contracts such as the department’s Nike deal and overseeing several athletic programs. — Michael Smith
Diana Sabau
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Sports Officer, Big Ten Conference
Born: Norfolk, Va.
Education: St. Bonaventure University, B.A.; Ohio University, master’s, sports administration; (also attended Somerville College and Oxford University)
Family: Spouse, James; children, Tanner and Camille
More about Diana
Guilty pleasure: Streaming Stanley Tucci — “Searching for Italy.”
Advice to my younger self: Be patient.
Year’s greatest challenge: Moving … unpacking boxes.
My leadership style is inspired by … : Caring for people.
Proudest professional achievement: I am so fortunate to have been a part of so many great teams and achievements over time. Each day I am proud to make an impact to the great good and to continue to protect the enterprise.
I wish I’d known at my career’s start: There is a lot of daily reading that is required, and it is important to schedule time to get it done.
Advice to a young person looking to work in sports business: Do great work, don’t be average, that is easy. Care more than others and do more than most.
Change I’d make related to women working in sports: We all need to be mindful in creating opportunities for all individuals. Women bring a valued perspective to sports and athletics competitions.
