Duke turns to the business world for its first GM

February 24, 2026 - 03:32

In a significant departure from traditional athletic department structure, Duke University has appointed former Fortune 500 CEO Mike Salvino as its first General Manager for Football. This pioneering move signals a new, business-oriented strategy for the program's operations and roster management.

Salvino, who led the global IT services firm DXC Technology, brings a corporate executive's perspective to the collegiate sports landscape. He is not a stranger to Duke, having served as an adjunct professor at the Fuqua School of Business, where he taught leadership. His primary focus will be on managing the modern football ecosystem, including the complexities of the transfer portal, athlete endorsements (NIL), and overall program development.

The creation of this new executive role underscores how radically college athletics has changed. Universities are now competing in a high-stakes, market-driven environment where roster construction and player retention require specialized, strategic management beyond traditional coaching. Salvino’s mandate is to build a sustainable infrastructure that allows the coaching staff to concentrate on field performance while he handles the burgeoning business and administrative facets of the program.

Athletic Director Nina King stated the hire reflects the need for innovative leadership tailored to this new era. By installing a seasoned CEO, Duke aims to gain a competitive edge through operational excellence and strategic oversight, fundamentally rethinking how a top-tier football program is run behind the scenes.