Jacob Tamme strives to 'ensure Kentucky is positioned at the forefront' of new era with Champions Blue, LLC

Jacob Tamme was born in Lexington and was a two-way, multi-sport superstar at Boyle County before representing his home state at Kentucky as a two-time First Team All-SEC tight end wearing the blue and white. He finished his career as the program’s all-time receiving leader at tight end and ranks second in SEC history at the position with 1,417 yards on 133 catches with 11 touchdowns. That led to a nine-year career in the NFL as a trusted target for Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and Denver before wrapping up his time in the pros in Atlanta.

Now, the legend of Kentucky past is back to help the Wildcats prepare for the future, Tamme announced as one of three outside experts serving on the Champions Blue, LLC board. Now a financial advisor, he’ll be serving a two-year term alongside Keeneland President/CEO Shannon Arvin (three-year term) and former Nike executive and Senior Vice President of Fanatics Chris Prindiville (one-year team).

Champions Blue, LLC was created for flexibility to rapidly adapt as the landscape of college athletics changes, unlock new revenue streams, protect the university from the unknowns, open the door for policy differentiation from the university and give access to outside experts.

Tamme is now one of those experts — and he’s excited to make a difference returning to a school and athletic department that helped him get his start in football.

“As someone who’s experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of both college and professional athletics, I’m excited to serve on the Champions Blue LLC board,” Tamme announced Friday. “UK Athletics has always meant a great deal to this state and its people — that hasn’t changed. But the landscape of collegiate athletics is changing.

“This new chapter offers a chance to build upon a strong athletics foundation, support our student-athletes in meaningful ways, and ensure Kentucky is positioned at the forefront of this evolving landscape. I look forward to working with the rest of the board and the administration to play a small role in that mission.”

As someone who’s experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of both college and professional athletics, I’m excited to serve on the Champions Blue LLC board. UK Athletics has always meant a great deal to this state and its people — that hasn’t changed. But the landscape of…

— Jacob Tamme (@JacobTamme) June 13, 2025

UK’s decision to bring back Tamme — along with Arvin and Prindiville — was to learn from professionals who had been in the space as college athletics trend toward a pro-lite model. Together, they will meet monthly over the next year, joined by fellow board members UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto, UK EVPFA Dr. Eric Monday, UK VP/Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Dr. Rob Edwards, and Position of Senior Advisor to the President Dr. George Wright. UK AD Mitch Barnhart and JMI President Paul Archey will be non-voting advisors on the board, as well.

“We wanted folks that were in industries and fields that either had undergone change or had some expertise related to change,” Eric Monday said, via the Lexington Herald-Leader “… We need to understand what the pro space has done, how they’ve thought about fan experiences, how they thought about the game day experience, how they thought about all the ways in which they manage their facilities.”

Over the next year, the UK Athletics Department will transition to Champions Blue, LLC — a non-profit holding company that will unlock new revenue streams through public-private partnerships and potentially other transactions, such as real estate. The structure is similar to how UK in recent years has acquired two major community hospitals — King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky, and UK St. Claire in Morehead, Kentucky. Both hospital systems are within similarly structured holding companies that, ultimately, report to the university and the Board of Trustees.

Tamme is excited to be along for the ride.