Villanova University School of Law Names Andrew Brandt Director of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for Sports Law

VILLANOVA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Villanova University School of Law (VLS) has announced the appointment of Andrew Brandt as Director of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for Sports Law. Mr. Brandt brings over 25 years of experience in the sports industry to VLS, having worked as a lawyer, player agent, team executive, television analyst, national columnist, and more throughout his illustrious career. He currently serves as the NFL Business Analyst for ESPN—regularly appearing on Outside the Lines, SportsCenter, and NFL Live and writing a weekly column on espn.com —and is a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in Negotiations and Sports Law.

“The opportunity to create and mold the Moorad Center from the ground up is an exciting new challenge”

In his new position, Mr. Brandt will oversee the activities of the newly-created Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law, advising and collaborating with the VLS faculty on the sports law curriculum and programs at the Law School. He will teach selected courses and seminars, manage speakers series and symposiums, coordinate a sports law internship program, and direct the creation of an innovative website containing a comprehensive online repository of sports law materials and industry news.

“Andrew Brandt brings the perfect blend of sports industry and legal expertise to his new role as Director of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for Sports Law,” said John Y. Gotanda, Dean of the Villanova University School of Law. “As an industry insider, Andrew knows the field of sports law like few others and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the VLS team. His professional success is an outstanding example of how our students can parlay their legal backgrounds into exciting and diverse careers in sports.”

“The opportunity to create and mold the Moorad Center from the ground up is an exciting new challenge,” said Mr. Brandt. “Jeffrey and Dean Gotanda’s interests in someone with practical experience to lead the program aligned nicely with my current roles. They understand and encourage my continuing obligations to ESPN and Wharton and the potential synergies they bring. I look forward to working with Jeffrey and Dean Gotanda to create a unique program that will hopefully be a thought leader in not only sports law, but also sports business, sports policy, and more.”

A graduate of Stanford University and Georgetown University Law School, Mr. Brandt worked for ProServ, Inc., representing top athletes such as Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Boomer Esiason. In 1990, he became the General Manager of the Barcelona Dragons in the NFL's World League, introducing American football to Spain and becoming the youngest general manager in professional sports. Following his time with the Dragons, Mr. Brandt returned to player representation for Woolf Associates, representing NFL players including Matt Hasselbeck, Adam Vinatieri, and Ricky Williams.

Mr. Brandt served as Vice President of the Green Bay Packers from 1999 to 2008, negotiating all player contracts, managing the NFL Salary Cap, and handling football operations. Highlights from his tenure with the Packers include hosting the NFC Championship Game in 2008 and negotiating contracts for most of the players who eventually led the team to their Super Bowl XLV victory.

Mr. Brandt also contributes to the website he co-founded, The National Football Post (nationalfootballpost.com). He is a sought-after speaker on business issues in sports, having lectured at numerous universities and corporate gatherings.

Mr. Brandt and his wife, Lisa, currently live outside of Philadelphia with their two sons, Sam and Max. His interests include playing jazz piano, running and biking as well as competing in sprint triathlons.

The Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law, created in February 2012 with a $5 million leadership gift from Jeffrey S. Moorad ’81, is one of only a handful of institutes in the U.S. dedicated to the study of sports law. The new Center will prepare students for careers in amateur and professional sports through rigorous academic study, innovative programs, internship opportunities, scholarship, and research. Located near Philadelphia, home to one of professional and amateur sports most dedicated fan bases and largest media markets, Villanova University School of Law is situated along the Northeast corridor in close proximity to several major sports markets including New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. Founded in 1953, the Villanova University School of Law tradition is rooted in academic excellence, academic freedom, inclusion and respect for human dignity. The Law School provides broad-based legal education, and its award-winning clinics and Lawyering Together Program provide free legal aid to those in need. The School is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

Notable alumni include Hon. Edward Rendell (Former Governor of Pennsylvania); Hon. Marjorie Rendell (Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit); Hon. Kelly Ayotte (U.S. Senator, New Hampshire); Richard Trumka (President, AFL-CIO); Joseph T. Sebastianelli (President and CEO, Jefferson Health Systems); Michael R. Haswell (Head of Business Development, Google); David C. Chavern (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce); and Jeffrey S. Moorad (Former Baseball Executive and Sports Agent).