Wake Forest Athletics
Janeen Lalik Named Wake Forest Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Women's Administrator
7/6/2026 2:35:00 PM | General
A 30-plus-year veteran of the sports industry, Lalik comes to Wake Forest from the Nashville Predators’ Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Janeen Lalik, currently Executive Vice President for the Nashville Predators' Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment and a collegiate sports enterprise veteran, has been named Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Women's Administrator, Wake Forest University Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie announced today.
"Janeen Lalik brings an incredible diversity of experiences from her thirty years on campus, in collegiate adjacent enterprise and in professional sports, all of which amplify her ability to help lead Wake Forest through the most dynamic period in the history of college athletics," Currie said. "But her most impressive attribute is the universal acclaim from her colleagues throughout her career for her servant leadership and sterling reputation as a teammate and mentor who gets things done."
"I am grateful to John Currie and Scott Garrett for the opportunity to return to college athletics and am honored to join the team at Wake Forest," Lalik said. "I look forward to contributing to the department's success, supporting our student-athletes and working with an exceptional team as we build on the strong tradition of excellence that defines Wake Forest."
As deputy athletics director, Lalik will provide leadership across the broader Wake Forest intercollegiate athletics enterprise in collaboration with Currie, senior deputy AD Scott Garrett and the Demon Deacon executive team. She will represent Wake Forest as Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in the NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference governance system in addition to her local duties. Additionally, Lalik will be deeply engaged with the partnerships supporting The Grounds, Wake Forest and Winston-Salem's new mixed use entertainment district whose $250 million first phase is scheduled to open in 2027.
During her time with the Predators, Lalik oversaw management of three Ford Ice Centers (Antioch, Bellevue and Clarksville) and Centennial Sportsplex, plus F&M Bank Arena. Additionally, Lalik implemented the Predators' business efficiencies into all SS&E business partnerships.
Lalik also worked in conjunction with the NHL to support Tennessee State University's quest to launch the first HBCU DI hockey program.
From 2022-24, Lalik served as the Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations at Florida State. In this role, Lalik oversaw Florida State's licensing division resulting in a record-setting 2022-23 year with $4.2 million in royalties which included the launch of the new Seminole Heritage apparel line. Lalik also managed the competitive process for a new multimedia rights partnership agreement which resulted in a stronger partnership that was more reflective of the evolving collegiate landscape.
Additionally, Lalik led the Seminoles' NIL committee to provide strategic direction related to Florida state law and create opportunities for student-athletes to maximize their name, image, and likeness while also serving as the sport administrator for Florida State's men's basketball and women's soccer programs. As the sport administrator for women's soccer, the Seminoles claimed the 2023 NCAA National Championship with an undefeated 22-0-1 record along with a pair of ACC Championships. Head coach Brian Pensky and his staff were named 2023 National Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches. Additionally, Lalik worked closely with men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, the winningest coach in Florida State history and fifth-winningest coach in ACC history.
Lalik was hired at Tennessee by Currie in 2017 and served the Vols for four years as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives, where she negotiated new multimedia and ticket partnerships, led creative efforts, initiated campus partnerships and served as the Volunteers' point of contact for the SEC Network.
Lalik spent nearly two years serving as the Senior Vice President for College Athletics at Ticketmaster. Before leading the new college division at Ticketmaster, Lalik spent 18 years overseeing incredible collegiate partner growth at IMG College/ISP Sports. With Lalik occupying one of the company's executive posts, IMG College evolved into the leading multimedia, marketing and licensing/brand management company in America.
In her role as Senior Vice President for New Business Development, Lalik used her gifts for relationship development to grow IMG's collegiate partnerships to more than 100 – in addition to multiple conferences and bowls.
Lalik attended Central Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
What They Are Saying
"Janeen Lalik brings an incredible diversity of experiences from her thirty years on campus, in collegiate adjacent enterprise and in professional sports, all of which amplify her ability to help lead Wake Forest through the most dynamic period in the history of college athletics," Currie said. "But her most impressive attribute is the universal acclaim from her colleagues throughout her career for her servant leadership and sterling reputation as a teammate and mentor who gets things done."
"I am grateful to John Currie and Scott Garrett for the opportunity to return to college athletics and am honored to join the team at Wake Forest," Lalik said. "I look forward to contributing to the department's success, supporting our student-athletes and working with an exceptional team as we build on the strong tradition of excellence that defines Wake Forest."
As deputy athletics director, Lalik will provide leadership across the broader Wake Forest intercollegiate athletics enterprise in collaboration with Currie, senior deputy AD Scott Garrett and the Demon Deacon executive team. She will represent Wake Forest as Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in the NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference governance system in addition to her local duties. Additionally, Lalik will be deeply engaged with the partnerships supporting The Grounds, Wake Forest and Winston-Salem's new mixed use entertainment district whose $250 million first phase is scheduled to open in 2027.
During her time with the Predators, Lalik oversaw management of three Ford Ice Centers (Antioch, Bellevue and Clarksville) and Centennial Sportsplex, plus F&M Bank Arena. Additionally, Lalik implemented the Predators' business efficiencies into all SS&E business partnerships.
Lalik also worked in conjunction with the NHL to support Tennessee State University's quest to launch the first HBCU DI hockey program.
From 2022-24, Lalik served as the Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations at Florida State. In this role, Lalik oversaw Florida State's licensing division resulting in a record-setting 2022-23 year with $4.2 million in royalties which included the launch of the new Seminole Heritage apparel line. Lalik also managed the competitive process for a new multimedia rights partnership agreement which resulted in a stronger partnership that was more reflective of the evolving collegiate landscape.
Additionally, Lalik led the Seminoles' NIL committee to provide strategic direction related to Florida state law and create opportunities for student-athletes to maximize their name, image, and likeness while also serving as the sport administrator for Florida State's men's basketball and women's soccer programs. As the sport administrator for women's soccer, the Seminoles claimed the 2023 NCAA National Championship with an undefeated 22-0-1 record along with a pair of ACC Championships. Head coach Brian Pensky and his staff were named 2023 National Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches. Additionally, Lalik worked closely with men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, the winningest coach in Florida State history and fifth-winningest coach in ACC history.
Lalik was hired at Tennessee by Currie in 2017 and served the Vols for four years as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives, where she negotiated new multimedia and ticket partnerships, led creative efforts, initiated campus partnerships and served as the Volunteers' point of contact for the SEC Network.
Lalik spent nearly two years serving as the Senior Vice President for College Athletics at Ticketmaster. Before leading the new college division at Ticketmaster, Lalik spent 18 years overseeing incredible collegiate partner growth at IMG College/ISP Sports. With Lalik occupying one of the company's executive posts, IMG College evolved into the leading multimedia, marketing and licensing/brand management company in America.
In her role as Senior Vice President for New Business Development, Lalik used her gifts for relationship development to grow IMG's collegiate partnerships to more than 100 – in addition to multiple conferences and bowls.
Lalik attended Central Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
What They Are Saying
- John Currie, Vice President & Director of Athletics at Wake Forest University
- "Janeen Lalik brings an incredible diversity of experiences from her thirty years on campus, in collegiate adjacent enterprise and in professional sports, all of which amplify her ability to help lead Wake Forest through the most dynamic period in the history of college athletics. But her most impressive attribute is the universal acclaim from her colleagues throughout her career for her servant leadership and sterling reputation as a teammate and mentor who gets things done."
- Ben Sutton, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Teall Sports & Entertainment and Founder, former Chairman and CEO of IMG College + ISP Sports
- "Janeen Lalik is one of the most talented and accomplished people in the college sports industry. She was an incredibly important leader for nearly two decades as we built ISP Sports from humble beginnings into the national market leader in media rights, licensing, ticketing and stadium experience. And her background beyond that – working in the NBA, NHL and at two other P4 universities – is really unmatched in the space. As a Wake Forest alum, I could not be more excited about her returning to the Twin Cities to work alongside John Currie and his team working to enhance our program and brand!"
- Cindy Hartmann, Deputy Athletic Director at Florida State University
- "Having worked closely with Janeen during her time at FSU, I've seen firsthand her relentless drive and strategic vision to push the boundaries of what is possible in college athletics. She is a forward thinker who has a great pulse on the national landscape. Not only is Wake gaining an exceptional leader, I am equally excited for what she will contribute to the leadership within the ACC as a Senior Women's Administrator!"
- Owen Shull, Executive Vice President, College Partnerships at Elevate
- "Wake Forest made a great hire with Janeen Lalik. I've known and worked with Janeen for over 25 years. Over those years, I've worked directly with her as well as in consulting roles. She is always prepared, thinks creatively and knows what it takes to be a good partner. I cannot think of anyone more broadly connected – and respected – throughout college athletics. I am personally happy that Janeen is back in college athletics and know Wake Forest will benefit greatly from it. I have no doubt she will have a huge impact on the University."
- Brian Pensky, Head Women's Soccer Coach at Florida State University
- "Janeen is a terrific addition for John Currie and Wake Forest Athletics. She is a consummate professional and a well-respected veteran in the industry. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Janeen at both Tennessee and Florida State. Janeen is sharp and is able to work well with a variety of people, both internally and externally to an athletic department. The breadth and depth of her experiences will serve Wake well in the varied roles she will take on in Winston-Salem."
- Don Bruce, Professor of Economics and former Faculty Athletics Representative at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- "I'm delighted that Wake Forest is bringing Janeen Lalik back to intercollegiate athletics. I had the great pleasure of working with her for several years on Rocky Top and can honestly say that she is one of the absolute best in the business. She knows what it means to have athletics on a university campus and honors the academic enterprise at every turn. She is the perfect person for this job at this pivotal time for college sports and for Wake Forest. My congratulations to John Currie on a superb hire!"
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