Jon Kuka joined the Ohio Valley Conference staff in April 2010 as the General Manager for OVC Sports Properties, a division of LEARFIELD. Kuka has over 20 years in sales, sponsorships, and sports marketing experience.
He joined the Conference staff as part of the OVC’s agreement with IMG College, now LEARFIELD, which was signed in February 2008. With the deal, Learfield IMG College represents the OVC through category exclusive corporate partnership sales, as well as multimedia rights for the men’s basketball championship and other championship events.
During his tenure with LEARFIELD since 2008 he has also served as the General Manager of properties at the Atlantic 10 Conference, Horizon League, and been a consultant for various sponsorship related services. In 2011 and 2012 Kuka was the recipient of the prestigious IMG Chairman’s Cup Award.
Prior to joining the OVC Kuka was the Director of Sales for Nelligan Sports Marketing, and Blue Raider Sports Properties, at Middle Tennessee State University for two years. In that position he managed corporate sponsorships and initiated multimedia marketing rights for the Blue Raiders athletic department.
From 2001-07 Kuka worked in Knoxville with the Tennessee Smokies baseball club, the AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. He began as a group sales representative and was promoted to Director of Group Sales and eventually Director of Sales. As the Director of Sales, Kuka oversaw ticket sales and corporate sponsorships sales.
Kuka received his bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2000. While in school Kuka interned with the Chattanooga Sports & Events Committee that assisted in marketing the city for attracting events such as the NCAA Division I Football National Championship. He was also a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity serving on their executive leadership committee, the university cycling club and a participant in the Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships.
Kuka attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to work on his MBA but completed his MBA from Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee Tech University in 2009.
A native of Chattanooga, Kuka resides with his wife, Alicia, daughter, and son, , in the Greater Nashville area. He is also a volunteer coach for multiple youth and school sports programs in the area.