The Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization comprised of current and former professional baseball players aiming to “make the game more accessible through increased representation,” announced Friday the addition of Dr. Jamil Northcutt as executive director and CEO. He began his role in May, according to a release.
Northcutt has spent more than 20 years working in collegiate and professional sports. A former Ole Miss football player, he worked with the SEC and also spent time in the Ole Miss athletic department. He worked in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns, then at the NFL league office. Northcutt also made stops with the NCAA and Major League Soccer before moving into consulting as a strategic advisor.
Northcutt joins fellow executive board members Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia and Edwin Jackson with The Players Alliance. The organization’s mission is to “address baseball’s systemic barriers by creating pathways to opportunities on and off the field through a variety of programs built around participation in baseball and softball, mentorship, professional baseball employee development, educational grants, and service opportunities across all communities.”
“I am truly honored to join The Players Alliance and to work alongside a board and staff so deeply committed to the integrity and ethics of sport,” Northcutt said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the board for their trust and the opportunity to serve the staff and our stakeholders. As I look forward to building meaningful relationships across the baseball and softball communities, we will continue to provide access, grow the game, and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.”
According to the release, Northcutt’s role will include overseeing strategy and execution, fundraising and staff and leadership development.
“Among the competitive pool of candidates, his experience in player development, strategic partnerships, business development, revenue generation and organizational leadership,” Granderson said, “showcase a rare depth of expertise that we believe can really help us grow the games of baseball and softball across all communities.”