ZRG Executive Chad Chatlos Recognized Among College Football's Most Influential Figures

Chad Chatlos, Managing Director at TurnkeyZRG, has been named by USA TODAY to its list of the 25 Most Powerful People in College Football heading into the 2025 season. Chatlos is recognized alongside conference commissioners, university presidents, media executives, coaches, and agents for his impact in shaping the leadership landscape of the sport. USA TODAY highlighted his track record of leading searches for the most critical positions in college athletics, including commissioner searches for the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, athletic director and head coach placements at programs such as Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Michigan State, and key executive leadership roles across the NCAA and Power Five conferences.

The significance of Chatlos's influence is demonstrated by the fact that among this weekend's opening slate of games, 10 of the AP Top 25's head coaches on the sidelines were placed by him—a testament to the depth of his impact on the sport's trajectory. TurnkeyZRG's reputation as the most respected search firm in college sports has been consistently demonstrated through handling the industry's most visible and sensitive leadership transitions under the leadership of Len Perna. Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG, stated that Chatlos has become the trusted voice in college athletics when the stakes are highest, reflecting ZRG's ability to serve as a trusted partner at the very top of industries.

Chatlos joined ZRG in 2020 and quickly built a reputation as the industry's leading search executive in college sports. His ability to combine deep relationships, creative problem-solving, and the backing of ZRG's data-driven platform has made him a key figure in shaping decisions that impact the direction of entire programs and conferences. The full USA TODAY ranking, which also includes SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, and ESPN analyst and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, is available at https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2024/08/28/college-football-most-powerful-people-2025/74998610007/.

As college athletics evolves faster than ever, the leadership decisions being made today will define the future of the sport. Chatlos emphasized that ZRG plays a crucial role in helping partners across both sports and business make the right calls, noting that the work is a team effort involving key members of their college sports practice. With the 2025 season kicking off with Week 1 games this weekend, ZRG continues to stand at the center of the decisions that shape the future of college sports and the business world at large, demonstrating the firm's expanding influence beyond athletics into broader corporate leadership domains.