Jack Swarbrick

Jack Swarbrick is a distinguished leader in college athletics who most recently served as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame from 2008 to 2024. During his tenure at Notre Dame, Swarbrick led numerous initiatives that significantly shaped the University’s athletic landscape and the broader college sports industry. 

Under Swarbrick’s leadership, Notre Dame achieved remarkable success, including 10 NCAA team championships, two College Football Playoff berths, a landmark partnership with Under Armour, and an extension of the University’s relationship with NBC Sports through the 2029 football season. His visionary approach led to the development of the Campus Crossroads Project, which transformed Notre Dame Stadium into a dynamic academic and athletic hub. Additionally, Swarbrick played a key role in launching Fighting Irish Media and establishing the GLD (Grow. Lead. Do.) Center to support leadership and career development for student-athletes.

Swarbrick’s commitment to social justice led to the creation of the STAND TOGETHER/Together Irish movement, which earned Notre Dame the NCAA’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion in 2024. He also facilitated an innovative athletics partnership with Legends and JMI Sports, transforming Notre Dame’s sales, marketing, hospitality, media rights, and branding initiatives both locally and nationally. Additionally, he secured Notre Dame’s membership in the ACC for all sports except football and hockey and obtained hockey’s membership in the Big Ten.

Beyond his work at Notre Dame, Swarbrick was a member of the College Football Playoff Management Committee that helped create the new 12-team model. He also participated in the 2023 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on name, image, and likeness.

Swarbrick is a 1976 magna cum laude graduate of Notre Dame, with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Upon graduating from Stanford University Law School in 1980, he accepted a position as an associate in the Indianapolis law firm Baker & Daniels (now Faegre Drinker). He was made partner in 1987 and spent 28 years with the firm.

During his legal career, he was the Competition Director for the 1987 Pan American Games, managing over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries and negotiating terms with 30 international federations.  He also chaired the Indiana Sports Corporation (1991–2001), where he led Indianapolis’ successful bids to host Super Bowl XLVI, B1G basketball tournaments, four world championships, six Olympic trials, 19 Olympic sport national championships, and 19 NCAA D1 championships (including three Final Fours).