TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincy Sports Partners President and Executive Senior Associate AD Ryan Holmes announced Thursday the completion of the Cincy Sports Partners staff.
The new additions to the team include Marc Brafman, Korbin Florer, Lionel Jackson, Josh King, and Jason Strine.
"Finalizing our staff marks a major milestone for UC Athletics, and I couldn't be more excited about what we're building," said Holmes. "Across our team, we bring experience from the NFL, MLB, MLS, college athletics and the entertainment industry. It's a diverse group consisting of three UC alumni with a wide range of skills and a passion for the city and Cincinnati Athletics. I'm confident this team will collaborate creatively with local, regional and national brands to maximize the value of partnerships with the Bearcats."
Beginning July 1, Cincinnati Athletics will bring multimedia rights representation (MMR) in-house. Cincy Sports Partners will serve as the Bearcats' corporate sales and sponsorships department, finalizing partnerships in areas including student-athlete NIL, unique fan experiences, radio broadcasts, local and national commercials, arena and stadium signage, digital marketing and storytelling, and more.
Marc Brafman, Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Brafman joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Corporate Partnerships in March 2025. He had previously worked as an account executive with the University of Cincinnati IMG office since November 2014 and in sponsorship sales at the Kentucky Speedway and Feld Entertainment.
Brafman graduated from the University of Alabama in 1999 with a communications degree.
Korbin Florer, Director of Partner Services
Florer joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Partnership Services in 2025 after seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. While with the Bengals, she split her time between the Corporate Partnerships and Business Intelligence departments. She was part of the back-to-back AFC Championship runs and played a key role in the transition to Paycor Stadium.
Florer graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2020.
Lionel Jackson, Director of Corporate Partnerships
Jackson joins Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Corporate Partnerships. He brings a wealth of experience from the medical device and dental industries, having worked with top-tier medical device companies where he played a key role in managing sales teams, optimizing business strategies, and expanding market presence.
Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Cincinnati, where he was a student-athlete on the men's soccer team from 2004-07. He completed an Executive Leadership Program with McKinsey & Company in 2024.
Josh King, Manager of Partner Services
King joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Manager of Partnership Services after four seasons with FC Cincinnati, where he was the Coordinator of Partnership Marketing. He was part of FC Cincinnati's Supporter Shield run and played a key role in the department's makeover.
King graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022.
Jason Strine, Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Strine joined Cincy Sports Partners as Director of Partnerships after 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, during which time he worked in numerous capacities focused on partnership sales and development.
Strine graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in 2012 and Xavier University with a master's degree in 2013.
Interest:
For those interested in becoming a partner of Cincinnati Athletics, please contact Ryan Holmes at holmests@ucmail.uc.edu.
About Cincinnati Athletics:
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first non-Power Five program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
In 2023, the Bearcats entered a new era as a Power Four School when they officially joined the Big 12 Conference, positioning Cincinnati among the nation's premier athletics programs.
Off the field, UC student-athletes continue to find success, as well, collectively posting a 3.48 GPA in the fall of 2024 with 83 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
The new additions to the team include Marc Brafman, Korbin Florer, Lionel Jackson, Josh King, and Jason Strine.
"Finalizing our staff marks a major milestone for UC Athletics, and I couldn't be more excited about what we're building," said Holmes. "Across our team, we bring experience from the NFL, MLB, MLS, college athletics and the entertainment industry. It's a diverse group consisting of three UC alumni with a wide range of skills and a passion for the city and Cincinnati Athletics. I'm confident this team will collaborate creatively with local, regional and national brands to maximize the value of partnerships with the Bearcats."
Beginning July 1, Cincinnati Athletics will bring multimedia rights representation (MMR) in-house. Cincy Sports Partners will serve as the Bearcats' corporate sales and sponsorships department, finalizing partnerships in areas including student-athlete NIL, unique fan experiences, radio broadcasts, local and national commercials, arena and stadium signage, digital marketing and storytelling, and more.
Marc Brafman, Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Brafman joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Corporate Partnerships in March 2025. He had previously worked as an account executive with the University of Cincinnati IMG office since November 2014 and in sponsorship sales at the Kentucky Speedway and Feld Entertainment.
Brafman graduated from the University of Alabama in 1999 with a communications degree.
Korbin Florer, Director of Partner Services
Florer joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Partnership Services in 2025 after seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. While with the Bengals, she split her time between the Corporate Partnerships and Business Intelligence departments. She was part of the back-to-back AFC Championship runs and played a key role in the transition to Paycor Stadium.
Florer graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2020.
Lionel Jackson, Director of Corporate Partnerships
Jackson joins Cincy Sports Partners as the Director of Corporate Partnerships. He brings a wealth of experience from the medical device and dental industries, having worked with top-tier medical device companies where he played a key role in managing sales teams, optimizing business strategies, and expanding market presence.
Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Cincinnati, where he was a student-athlete on the men's soccer team from 2004-07. He completed an Executive Leadership Program with McKinsey & Company in 2024.
Josh King, Manager of Partner Services
King joined Cincy Sports Partners as the Manager of Partnership Services after four seasons with FC Cincinnati, where he was the Coordinator of Partnership Marketing. He was part of FC Cincinnati's Supporter Shield run and played a key role in the department's makeover.
King graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022.
Jason Strine, Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Strine joined Cincy Sports Partners as Director of Partnerships after 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, during which time he worked in numerous capacities focused on partnership sales and development.
Strine graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in 2012 and Xavier University with a master's degree in 2013.
Interest:
For those interested in becoming a partner of Cincinnati Athletics, please contact Ryan Holmes at holmests@ucmail.uc.edu.
About Cincinnati Athletics:
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first non-Power Five program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
In 2023, the Bearcats entered a new era as a Power Four School when they officially joined the Big 12 Conference, positioning Cincinnati among the nation's premier athletics programs.
Off the field, UC student-athletes continue to find success, as well, collectively posting a 3.48 GPA in the fall of 2024 with 83 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.