Al Grigsby was named General Manager of the West Coast Conference's corporate marketing and sponsorships partnership with Van Wagner in Oct. 2026. Grigsby leads the development and execution of the Conference’s corporate partnership strategy, with an emphasis on generating new revenue opportunities, expanding commercial relationships and championships ticket sales.
Grigsby brings more than two decades of experience spanning collegiate athletics, corporate partnerships, and international business development. In his role, he works closely with WCC leadership and Van Wagner to grow the Conference’s corporate sponsorship portfolio, cultivate strategic relationships with regional and national brands and create innovative partnerships that enhance the visibility and commercial value of the WCC and its member institutions.
Grigsby joins Van Wagner after four years of fundraising at Seattle University, first as Assistant Athletic Director responsible for corporate sponsorships and development before being centralized and moving to Director of Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations. In that role, he was responsible for corporate sponsorships, revenue generation, and licensing and trade partnership initiatives across athletics and the broader university.
Among his accomplishments at Seattle U, Grigsby secured a campus advertising revenue-sharing agreement projected to generate more than $1.3 million annually, established corporate trade partnerships that offset athletics operating expenses and developed an integrated platform connecting university-wide sponsorship and partnership opportunities. He also contributed to record-setting fundraising efforts for Redhawk Athletics.
Prior to his tenure in collegiate athletics administration, Grigsby spent 15 years with BioVed Pharmaceuticals, where he led international business development and licensing initiatives across markets in Asia and North America. His work included negotiating strategic agreements, expanding distribution networks and generating significant revenue growth through new commercial partnerships.
A former Division I and professional basketball player, Grigsby brings a distinctive understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape. He played basketball at the University of California, Berkeley, helping the Golden Bears reach three NCAA Tournaments and a pair of Sweet 16s, before embarking on a five-year professional playing career in Japan. He later served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Seattle U before transitioning into athletics and university administration.
Grigsby earned his bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2025, he was the recipient of the Pete Newell Career Achievement Award, an honor presented annually to a Cal men's basketball alumnus who has distinguished himself in his career accomplishments, upholding the highest ideals of Newell and the University of California.