Kansas Athletics Names Strantz as Executive Director of Front Office Strategy and Operations
8/21/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
LAWRENCE, Kan. – In a first-of-its-kind role in the department, Kansas Athletics has named former Houston Rockets front office member, Sam Strantz, as Executive Director of Front Office Strategy and Operations, showing continued evolvement in the everchanging landscape of college athletics.
Strantz, who served as the Senior Team Counsel for the Rockets, will report directly to Director of Athletics Travis Goff and will help lead the department's efforts and approach in cap management. He will work to develop an analytical approach to provide strategic advisement to Goff and various head coaches throughout the department.
"Our success in college athletics will depend on our ability to think differently and challenge ourselves in ways we never have before," Goff said. "As we began this search, our goal was to find an elite collaborator who could draw on his previous experiences and forward-thinking mindset to help transform the way we operate as a department. I believe we found that—and much more—in Sam. He brings the tools, skills, and vision we need in this role, while also being an ideal fit for the culture and fabric we have built within our department. I am confident he will be a tremendous asset to all our programs and play an important role in our continued success."
Strantz spent nearly five years with the Rockets, joining the organization in 2021 as Associate Legal Counsel. He was promoted to Senior Team Counsel in July of 2024. In that role, he advised the Rockets on both basketball operations and legal strategy, supporting front-office decision making, roster construction, transaction execution and organizational execution.
Additionally, Strantz served as a legal and strategic advisor to senior leadership, including the President, General Manager, General Counsel and coaching and basketball operations staff. Some of his duties included drafting and negotiating NBA uniform player contracts, advising basketball operations on NBA rules, CBA interpretation, draft matters, players health and roster construction, developing contract templates, playbooks and negotiation frameworks and supporting strategic and commercial initiatives.
"I'm deeply grateful to Travis Goff, his leadership cabinet, and the coaching staffs for the opportunity to help build a disciplined, best-in-class front office for one of the premier brands in college athletics," Strantz said. "Kansas has the history, ambition, and elite personnel to compete at the highest level in the revenue-share and NIL era. I couldn't be more excited to get started. I'm also thankful to the Houston Rockets organization for five incredible seasons. Houston will always be part of my story, and I'm ready to bring that experience to Lawrence. ROCK CHALK!"
Prior to his time with the Rockets, Strantz served as corporate counsel for Sling TV and served as an associate attorney at Baker Donelson in Memphis for five-plus years. Strantz holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee and an undergraduate degree from Memphis. Strantz, and his wife, Ivy, have a son, Sawyer, and a daughter, Sadie.
Strantz, who served as the Senior Team Counsel for the Rockets, will report directly to Director of Athletics Travis Goff and will help lead the department's efforts and approach in cap management. He will work to develop an analytical approach to provide strategic advisement to Goff and various head coaches throughout the department.
"Our success in college athletics will depend on our ability to think differently and challenge ourselves in ways we never have before," Goff said. "As we began this search, our goal was to find an elite collaborator who could draw on his previous experiences and forward-thinking mindset to help transform the way we operate as a department. I believe we found that—and much more—in Sam. He brings the tools, skills, and vision we need in this role, while also being an ideal fit for the culture and fabric we have built within our department. I am confident he will be a tremendous asset to all our programs and play an important role in our continued success."
Strantz spent nearly five years with the Rockets, joining the organization in 2021 as Associate Legal Counsel. He was promoted to Senior Team Counsel in July of 2024. In that role, he advised the Rockets on both basketball operations and legal strategy, supporting front-office decision making, roster construction, transaction execution and organizational execution.
Additionally, Strantz served as a legal and strategic advisor to senior leadership, including the President, General Manager, General Counsel and coaching and basketball operations staff. Some of his duties included drafting and negotiating NBA uniform player contracts, advising basketball operations on NBA rules, CBA interpretation, draft matters, players health and roster construction, developing contract templates, playbooks and negotiation frameworks and supporting strategic and commercial initiatives.
"I'm deeply grateful to Travis Goff, his leadership cabinet, and the coaching staffs for the opportunity to help build a disciplined, best-in-class front office for one of the premier brands in college athletics," Strantz said. "Kansas has the history, ambition, and elite personnel to compete at the highest level in the revenue-share and NIL era. I couldn't be more excited to get started. I'm also thankful to the Houston Rockets organization for five incredible seasons. Houston will always be part of my story, and I'm ready to bring that experience to Lawrence. ROCK CHALK!"
Prior to his time with the Rockets, Strantz served as corporate counsel for Sling TV and served as an associate attorney at Baker Donelson in Memphis for five-plus years. Strantz holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee and an undergraduate degree from Memphis. Strantz, and his wife, Ivy, have a son, Sawyer, and a daughter, Sadie.
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