Staff Directory
Doug McNamee
- Title:
- Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Email:
- Phone:
- 1234
An experienced media and brand executive and former athletics administrator, Doug McNamee was named the Bears’ Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics on Dec. 8, 2025.
McNamee returned to Baylor after successful stints as President of Waco-based Magnolia, the nationally recognized lifestyle and media company founded by Baylor alums Chip and Joanna Gaines, and most recently as President of the re-imagined Field & Stream with country music superstars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen as investors. A two-time Baylor graduate, McNamee spent nearly a decade at his alma mater, rising to Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs before departing in 2018 for the corporate sector.
At Field & Stream, McNamee led the revitalization of the iconic 154-year-old outdoor brand into a modern, multi-platform media and consumer lifestyle company where he led all product, media, retail and content strategy while positioning the company for long-term, omni-channel growth. McNamee oversaw the complete media and retail portfolio, including the return of the beloved print publication, creation of the 1871 Club membership program offering, and the pending launch of Field & Stream TV. He also spearheaded a transformational agreement with Tractor Supply Co. that accelerated growth across licensing and brand visibility.
Before joining Field & Stream, McNamee served as President of Magnolia, where he led commercial strategy across media, retail, hospitality, e-commerce and partnerships. He provided critical leadership in the business formation, deal structure and strategic terms that enabled the creation and rollout of the highly successful Magnolia Network.
In his previous stint at Baylor, McNamee was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-facing units — including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticketing. He also served on the search committee that brought former head football coach Matt Rhule to Baylor, and he played a key role in the fundraising, planning and opening of McLane Stadium over a decade ago.
McNamee began his career at IMG College, rising quickly to General Manager for Baylor’s multimedia portfolio, where he led sponsorship strategy, partnership development and revenue optimization.
McNamee is passionate about improving the fan experience – with a focus on game days – as well as expanding current and developing new revenue streams. He has negotiated and closed complex, high-value contracts with companies like Warner Bros. Discovery (Turner/HBO), Tractor Supply Co. and Amazon, underscoring his ability to structure and execute deals with significant strategic and financial impact. In addition, he is known for his commitment to building high-performing teams, surrounding himself with specialized talent and leading with integrity to ensure that expertise, collaboration and mission alignment remain at the center of every major initiative.
Originally from Lake Jackson, Texas, McNamee earned his bachelor's degree in speech communications from Baylor in 2003. He went on to earn his master's degree in sport management, also from Baylor, in 2005. As a student, McNamee worked for Baylor Baseball, Men’s Basketball, and Baylor Student-Athlete Services.
He is married to Lacy McNamee, Ph.D., a former tenured Baylor faculty member in the Department of Communication, and they have two daughters, Josie (10) and Maggie (8).
The McNamee family resides in Woodway, where they attend Renew Church Waco.
What They’re Saying About Doug McNamee:
“Doug McNamee is an absolute grand slam hire. He is one of Baylor and Waco’s own, and someone who knows the importance and great opportunity Baylor has as the nation’s largest Baptist University. Doug’s understanding and connections in the business world make him an ideal choice to lead Baylor Athletics in the evolving collegiate athletics landscape.”
- Baylor Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Drew
“During Doug’s years as President of Magnolia—overseeing our media, retail, food, and real estate teams—we watched him lead with integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to people.
In his first interview with us, he shared that his favorite childhood memories were watching sports with his dad—and that creating moments for others to make lasting memories was the heartbeat of the work he hoped to do. That intention has guided him ever since. With his deep love for the Bears and his unique professional experience, Baylor couldn’t have selected a better leader to help shepherd its athletics program into the future. We are incredibly proud of Doug and know without a doubt that he was made for this moment—and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way. Sic 'em Bears!”
- Chip and Joanna Gaines
“Doug McNamee has all the qualities required to be an extremely successful Athletic Director in the Big 12 Conference. He is a person of strong character, dedication and passion for his Alma mater. He will represent Baylor and the Waco community with class and dignity. His skill set with donor relations and revenue generation will be invaluable to the Bears success.”
-Peter Pilling, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Columbia University
“I've had the privilege of working alongside Doug for a few years, and what stands out is his rare combination of intellectual curiosity and decisive action. He's high-horsepower but never reckless—a thoughtful risk-taker who leads with faith and integrity. Baylor is getting exactly the leader this moment demands." - Kelly Hoogstraten, CEO Wonder Project
“Over two years in working alongside, I've watched Doug wrestle with hard questions, seek wisdom, and consistently lead with both conviction and humility. He's curious, driven, and deeply grounded in his faith. Baylor isn't just hiring a skilled executive—they're bringing home someone who embodies what the university stands for.”
- Kelly Hoogstraten, CEO Wonder Project
“Doug has proven to be a high-capacity enterprise scaler and talent maximizer through his work in complex brands like Magnolia and Field & Stream, while bleeding green and gold the entire time. To architect a mission advancing athletic program to match the legacy potential of Baylor requires not only the fierce grit and talent of Doug, but the alignment of vision and relationships to build a winning team.
“Doug builds teams of talent and compounding value to scale enterprises and has proven that with Magnolia and Field & Stream most recently, he’s the kind of leader that can unleash greatness and mission excellence for this moment in the Baylor athletic legacy.
“Baylor needs the combination of proven market leadership, acumen and talent building excellence that Doug McNamee brings to scale a complex athletic program to compete at the highest levels. The enterprise strategy, talent development and mission alignment Doug represents is exactly what the program needs for this new day.
- Mike Sharrow, CEO of C12 Business Forums
BAYLOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
1903-04 R.N. Watts
1907-08 Luther Burleson
1908-11 Enoch Mills
1913-14 Norman Paine
1914-20 Charles Mosley
1920-26 Frank Bridges
1927-40 Morley Jennings
1941-49 Ralph Wolf
1950-59 George Sauer
1959-68 John Bridgers
1968-71 Bill Henderson
1971-80 Jack Patterson
1980-92 Bill Menefee
1992-93 Grant Teaff
1993-96 Dick Ellis
1996-03 Tom Stanton
2003-16 Ian McCaw
2016-25 Mack Rhoades
2025- Doug McNamee
McNamee returned to Baylor after successful stints as President of Waco-based Magnolia, the nationally recognized lifestyle and media company founded by Baylor alums Chip and Joanna Gaines, and most recently as President of the re-imagined Field & Stream with country music superstars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen as investors. A two-time Baylor graduate, McNamee spent nearly a decade at his alma mater, rising to Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs before departing in 2018 for the corporate sector.
At Field & Stream, McNamee led the revitalization of the iconic 154-year-old outdoor brand into a modern, multi-platform media and consumer lifestyle company where he led all product, media, retail and content strategy while positioning the company for long-term, omni-channel growth. McNamee oversaw the complete media and retail portfolio, including the return of the beloved print publication, creation of the 1871 Club membership program offering, and the pending launch of Field & Stream TV. He also spearheaded a transformational agreement with Tractor Supply Co. that accelerated growth across licensing and brand visibility.
Before joining Field & Stream, McNamee served as President of Magnolia, where he led commercial strategy across media, retail, hospitality, e-commerce and partnerships. He provided critical leadership in the business formation, deal structure and strategic terms that enabled the creation and rollout of the highly successful Magnolia Network.
In his previous stint at Baylor, McNamee was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-facing units — including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticketing. He also served on the search committee that brought former head football coach Matt Rhule to Baylor, and he played a key role in the fundraising, planning and opening of McLane Stadium over a decade ago.
McNamee began his career at IMG College, rising quickly to General Manager for Baylor’s multimedia portfolio, where he led sponsorship strategy, partnership development and revenue optimization.
McNamee is passionate about improving the fan experience – with a focus on game days – as well as expanding current and developing new revenue streams. He has negotiated and closed complex, high-value contracts with companies like Warner Bros. Discovery (Turner/HBO), Tractor Supply Co. and Amazon, underscoring his ability to structure and execute deals with significant strategic and financial impact. In addition, he is known for his commitment to building high-performing teams, surrounding himself with specialized talent and leading with integrity to ensure that expertise, collaboration and mission alignment remain at the center of every major initiative.
Originally from Lake Jackson, Texas, McNamee earned his bachelor's degree in speech communications from Baylor in 2003. He went on to earn his master's degree in sport management, also from Baylor, in 2005. As a student, McNamee worked for Baylor Baseball, Men’s Basketball, and Baylor Student-Athlete Services.
He is married to Lacy McNamee, Ph.D., a former tenured Baylor faculty member in the Department of Communication, and they have two daughters, Josie (10) and Maggie (8).
The McNamee family resides in Woodway, where they attend Renew Church Waco.
What They’re Saying About Doug McNamee:
“Doug McNamee is an absolute grand slam hire. He is one of Baylor and Waco’s own, and someone who knows the importance and great opportunity Baylor has as the nation’s largest Baptist University. Doug’s understanding and connections in the business world make him an ideal choice to lead Baylor Athletics in the evolving collegiate athletics landscape.”
- Baylor Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Drew
“During Doug’s years as President of Magnolia—overseeing our media, retail, food, and real estate teams—we watched him lead with integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to people.
In his first interview with us, he shared that his favorite childhood memories were watching sports with his dad—and that creating moments for others to make lasting memories was the heartbeat of the work he hoped to do. That intention has guided him ever since. With his deep love for the Bears and his unique professional experience, Baylor couldn’t have selected a better leader to help shepherd its athletics program into the future. We are incredibly proud of Doug and know without a doubt that he was made for this moment—and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way. Sic 'em Bears!”
- Chip and Joanna Gaines
“Doug McNamee has all the qualities required to be an extremely successful Athletic Director in the Big 12 Conference. He is a person of strong character, dedication and passion for his Alma mater. He will represent Baylor and the Waco community with class and dignity. His skill set with donor relations and revenue generation will be invaluable to the Bears success.”
-Peter Pilling, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Columbia University
“I've had the privilege of working alongside Doug for a few years, and what stands out is his rare combination of intellectual curiosity and decisive action. He's high-horsepower but never reckless—a thoughtful risk-taker who leads with faith and integrity. Baylor is getting exactly the leader this moment demands." - Kelly Hoogstraten, CEO Wonder Project
“Over two years in working alongside, I've watched Doug wrestle with hard questions, seek wisdom, and consistently lead with both conviction and humility. He's curious, driven, and deeply grounded in his faith. Baylor isn't just hiring a skilled executive—they're bringing home someone who embodies what the university stands for.”
- Kelly Hoogstraten, CEO Wonder Project
“Doug has proven to be a high-capacity enterprise scaler and talent maximizer through his work in complex brands like Magnolia and Field & Stream, while bleeding green and gold the entire time. To architect a mission advancing athletic program to match the legacy potential of Baylor requires not only the fierce grit and talent of Doug, but the alignment of vision and relationships to build a winning team.
“Doug builds teams of talent and compounding value to scale enterprises and has proven that with Magnolia and Field & Stream most recently, he’s the kind of leader that can unleash greatness and mission excellence for this moment in the Baylor athletic legacy.
“Baylor needs the combination of proven market leadership, acumen and talent building excellence that Doug McNamee brings to scale a complex athletic program to compete at the highest levels. The enterprise strategy, talent development and mission alignment Doug represents is exactly what the program needs for this new day.
- Mike Sharrow, CEO of C12 Business Forums
BAYLOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
1903-04 R.N. Watts
1907-08 Luther Burleson
1908-11 Enoch Mills
1913-14 Norman Paine
1914-20 Charles Mosley
1920-26 Frank Bridges
1927-40 Morley Jennings
1941-49 Ralph Wolf
1950-59 George Sauer
1959-68 John Bridgers
1968-71 Bill Henderson
1971-80 Jack Patterson
1980-92 Bill Menefee
1992-93 Grant Teaff
1993-96 Dick Ellis
1996-03 Tom Stanton
2003-16 Ian McCaw
2016-25 Mack Rhoades
2025- Doug McNamee
Now in Facebook Live
Tuesday, December 09
Baylor Athletics: Doug McNamee Introductory Press Conference
Tuesday, December 09
Baylor Athletics: Doug McNamee Introductory Press Conference | December 8, 2025
Tuesday, December 09
Would go to battle with this crew anytime 🫶
Monday, December 08
