Kyle J. Cavanaugh

As President of Administration for the NBA, Kyle Cavanaugh oversees the global facilities, benefits, information technology, security, risk management, internal audit, diversity and inclusion, people and culture, and administration affairs of the league and its related entities. His responsibilities also include administration of leaguewide team programs, including benefit and pension plans, the team air charter program and insurance programs.

Cavanaugh joined the league office on June 1 and has more than 30 years of experience in administration and human resources, including 13 years at Duke University and Duke Health. As Vice President for Administration at Duke, he was responsible for human resources and benefits, labor and employee relations, executive compensation, international employment, security and police, emergency management, and other administrative functions for a workforce of 43,000 and a student population of 15,000. He was instrumental in the creation of Duke’s affiliated campus in China and supported numerous global activities. In February 2020, Cavanaugh was appointed by the university president to lead Duke’s COVID-19 management strategy.

Prior to Duke, Cavanaugh served as Senior Vice President for Administration at the University of Florida, where he oversaw a range of business, financial and operational activities. He previously held senior administrative positions at The University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and Vanderbilt University and Medical Center.

Duke created the Kyle J. Cavanaugh Award for Leadership and Service in his honor. It will be awarded periodically by the university president to staff and faculty for exceptional contributions to Duke.

Cavanaugh has been active with various not-for-profit community organizations that focus on early childhood literacy and employment. He holds an M.B.A. from Belmont University and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt and the University of Illinois Chicago. He received a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., where he earned a basketball scholarship.