Learfield Names Seasoned Sports Executive Matt Deimund as Chief Strategy Officer

DALLAS, Texas, (Sept. 22, 2026) - Learfield, the media and technology company powering college athletics, today named Matt Deimund as Chief Strategy Officer, returning a proven industry leader to the company as college athletics continues to undergo unprecedented transformation. In this role, Deimund will be responsible for developing and executing Learfield's enterprise strategy, identifying growth opportunities across the company's portfolio - including its investments in AI development and services - and helping drive long-term value for Learfield's college athletics and brand partners.

Deimund brings more than two decades of experience spanning sports, media, technology, and consumer engagement. Most recently, Deimund served as Chief Product Officer at Dude Perfect, where he helped guide the company's product innovation and growth initiatives. Prior to that, he served as Chief Transformation Officer for Varsity Spirit, leading key operational, digital, and strategic growth programs across the organization.

He previously held senior leadership roles at Learfield, where he helped lead several high-growth strategies, including developing and scaling Learfield's Fanbase platform and expanding collaboration initiatives across the Learfield portfolio, spanning media, commerce, digital, and fan engagement.

"Matt is an exceptional leader with a unique combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and deep industry expertise," said Cole Gahagan, President and CEO of Learfield. "He understands our business, our partners, and the rapidly evolving college athletics landscape. Matt brings the experience, creativity, and leadership necessary to accelerate our strategic priorities and continue to position Learfield and our partners for high growth and success."

"I'm thrilled to return to Learfield at such a pivotal moment for college athletics," said Deimund. "The industry is experiencing rapid change, creating tremendous opportunities to innovate, strengthen fan connections, and create new value for our partners. Learfield is uniquely positioned to lead that transformation, and I'm excited to work alongside leadership and the entire team to help shape the future of the business."

Learfield also announced that Ben Mathan has been appointed President of Digital & Technology. In this leadership role, Mathan will continue to oversee Learfield's comprehensive portfolio of technology, data, and fan engagement businesses, including Paciolan, SIDEARM Sports, EDGE, and the Fanbase data platform. Previously, Mathan served as Learfield's Chief Strategy Officer, leading enterprise strategy development and data-focused initiatives. Mathan also played a key role during the company's recent sale to TPG, which closed this past June.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative revenue generation solutions, student-athlete marketing initiatives, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.