Tao of Sports Podcast

As the growth of sports management programs flourish in the United States, IUPUI associate professor David Pierce wonders what the breaking point will be. Pierce talks about the challenges of providing relevant information, as well as experiences, for the students in his program. Pierce discusses some of the better ways to implement a sales mindset for sports management students, and also how he s...

Athletic training has never been covered on the podcast prior, so it is a perfect storm when the Director of Sports Medicine at the University of Puget Sound Athletic Department comes on. Craig Bennett is not just an advocate for his industry, but also the president of the Washington State Athletic Trainers Association. Bennett discusses a lot of the issues surrounding athlete health, especially w...

The Man In The Yellow Suit is Jesse Cole, who owns the Gastonia Grizzlies and the Savannah Bananas at the age of 32, with his wife serving as the Director of Fun. Cole talks about his beginnings, starting with a team and $200 in the checking account, and realizing that fun was the best way to build a fanbase. Cole talks about how deeply entrenched the Bananas mindset is in Savannah, and how far he...

With over two decades of experience in media, sales and advertising, Matt Jones explains how he helps place Delta State Athletics on the map, even in Cleveland, Mississippi. Jones talks about the relationship between the wins on the field, as well as how to get wins on the revenue ledger. Jones describes how the Division II football and baseball program at Delta State has earned a national presenc...

Brian DeAngelis has had an extensive career in minor league baseball ticket sales, spanning 6 years and working in organizations such as Ripken Baseball, The State College Spikes, and now as Vice President of Ticket Sales at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. DeAngelis talks about what separates the IronPigs from other minor league baseball franchises, specifically the focus on customer experience, inclu...

After 6 years as the associate athletic director for external affairs at Nicholls State, Brandon Ruttley has left the college sports space for private industry. Ruttley talks about the intense coming to terms with his decision to leave athletics, with the door still cracked open to return upon the right opportunity, but is at peace either way. Ruttley shares what he believes the private sector can...

Over the past 8 years, Gary Olson has been moving tickets for various minor league baseball teams. Olson discusses that one period of selling for a third party vendor of Arizona State athletics, and what the differences were. Olson talks about how to engage, as well as training his core group of employees, along with whether the phone call is actually dying out and if season tickets still matter....

Jim Sarosy has been with the Syracuse Crunch for so long, that even he's flabbergasted at his legacy with the team. A product of the 1990s sports sales staff, Sarosy talks about rising through the ranks, but not letting his ambition get the better of him, while constantly staying on his toes in minor league hockey. Sarosy discusses why the Crunch are the crazies of American Hockey League promotion...

Dedan Brozino represents how truly community development can continue the legacy of a rich college football tradition. As executive director of Pasadena's Rose Bowl, Brozino focuses on stadium upgrades within the historical confines, including ways to build support through various civic and philanthropic initiatives. Brozino talks about his past roles at CSU Long Beach as a Sr. Associate Athletic...

Donnie Marbut has transitioned from a rising star Division I head baseball coach to the world of leadership as Commissioner of the West Coast League. Marbut discusses how the West Coast League has developed a unique brand against the collegiate summer baseball league marketplace, and how it continues to strive for consistent, solid fan development with an eye on future expansion. Marbut talks abou...

With the young history of digital media unfolding, Brian Srabian presents a strong argument about why sports is generally at the forefront of delivery of social media technology. Srabian discusses the early days of living on the edge in sports social media, where trying new things and jumping to different platforms shook up the system with differing results. Srabian discusses navigating the waters...

Deep in Canada's technology sector, Tim Burke has been examining ways to learn more about customers for the past 15 years. Burke discusses his passion for Affinio, a company founded on the belief that there is more to learn beyond the social noise. Burke talks about the mega trendsetters in the marketplace, as well as the misconceptions about what data matters and what should be disregarded. Twitt...

While the historical namesake of Thomas Phelps is widely known as an 1880s Rear Admiral for the U.S. Navy, the current version of Thomas Phelps is doing his best to ensure that the traditions of the Naval Athletic Association stay alive through his multiple group sales and donation efforts. Phelps, serving in a capacity of Executive Sales Associate for External Relations and Group Sales, talks at...

Steve Hank has worked in the upper echelon of two of the premiere athletic departments, Arizona State University and the University of Texas at Austin, which has helped him developed a short hand on what administrators need to know about data, revenue and overall fan experience. Hank talks about his time at both institutions, as well as how to get the ball roll with discussions regarding CRM platf...

One of the NASL teams vying for a future MLS spot sits in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Carolina Railhawks FC build their audience based on great play, quality experience and with the important of brand message. Vice President Brennan Barber discusses some of the key ways that the Railhawks FC continue to push the envelope, showing the success that may garner a future MLS expansion bid, but i...

In a podcast first, Joe Verschueren shares a history with the guest of the podcast episode right before him, Matt Carson (Ep. 725), in that they both worked in the same position at Texas State. Verschueren tells of his tenure prior to Carson's, where the school had decided to move up to FBS from FCS, as well as change the university name. Now down the road a couple of years, with a stint at the Un...

Matt Carson has a wealth of knowledge on the state of FBS athletic programs in the Lone Star State, having working at three Texas universities during his career. Carson talks about the transition from development to operations, coupled with ticket sales overall, and how he works on building revenue generation from his prospective contacts. As the Assistant Athletic Director at Texas State, Carson...

Stephen Nord brings his wealth of sports sales experience to the podcast, to discuss his roles with the Salt Lake City Bees and the Utah Jazz. While he starts out talking ticket sales, the corporate partnership activation that he sold later comes into play. Nord discusses some of the ways that he engaged with his customers, ensuring success, and unveils some of the intangibles that come with selli...

Dave Kinard presents one of the biggest challenges, as well as opportunities, that all private institutions face when recruiting student athletes, coaches and athletic administrative staff; ensuring that the core principles of the university, especially when backed by a religion foundation, are understood, followed and permeate throughout that person's tenure with the campus. Kinard discusses how...

Coming over from the professional sports marketing side, Rob Thompson is posed to help his alma mater at the University of New Haven generate a higher dynamic of revenues off-the-field. Thompson discusses his career, spanning from generating crowds for special sporting events, to creating activation for sponsorship partners as well as being a general manager for an Arena Football League team. Thom...

Joseph Mullings has had an extensive background in helping small university athletic departments generate significant sponsorship revenue gains in their communities through a third party model. Now, striking out on his own with Altitude Sports Marketing, Mullings discusses what many athletic departments tend to overlook when it comes to potential revenue generation opportunities with local busines...

Understanding how data can increase the success rate for prospecting sales leads is what MaryLou Tyler has set out to do. Tyler discusses how a sales staff can dramatically increase their B2B sales pipeline into an opportunity engine, without it becoming a cold calling nightmare. Tyler talks about the various levels of awareness in building a prospecting funnel for each sales rep, and leverages he...

With his deep development background, Rob Clark has now begun to strategically plan an external operations role to bring the greater Long Beach State community to campus. Clark discusses his thoughts on social media, promotions that create an impact, and how to ensure that everybody knows about it. Clark shares some insight into how to have a conversation with a donor where everything's upfront, o...

Tamica Smith-Jones brings a wealth of experience to her role as the athletic director at UC Riverside, after being a Division II Athletic Director, a Senior Women's Administrator with UTSA, a former basketball coach, and a former student athlete. Smith-Jones discusses how she delivers a wider perspective to the campus community, her administrative staff, coaching staff and student athletes when st...

Tera Black sits in a unique position as one of the few female executives running a professional hockey team. Black has been part of the WCHL, ECHL & AHL as a Chief Operating Officer. Black discusses the Charlotte Checkers' transition last year from Time Warner Arena to Bojangles Coliseum, as well as the flexibility it allowed during the schedule. Black shares her focus on how the Checkers have bee...