The Athletics of Business

Coach Scott Davenport began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach under Denny Crum at Louisville in 1984. He then moved on to VCU for one season as an assistant to Mike Pollio. He returned to the Louisville area as a high school head coach at Ballard High School where he'd stay for 10 seasons from 1986–1996. Davenport won a 1988 state championship team and later coached future NBA players DeJuan Wheat and Allan Houston. Davenport returned to the Cardinals under Crum in 1996, and would stay on as an assistant coach for Rick Pitino until 2005, when he accepted the head coaching job at Bellarmine.

Since joining the Knights, Davenport has become the all-time wins leader at the school, and has led the team to six Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season titles and five conference tournament titles, along with 12 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament which includes four Final Four appearances (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017), and the 2011 national title.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• What the difference is between a vocation and an advocation
• Why it is so important for your players to be your best recruiters
• How it was coaches who shaped his life after he lost his father as a Nine-year-old.
• What was it about him that convinced Rick Pitino to keep him as an assistant after Denny Crum retired
• Why he believes it is so important to treat your people first-class
• Why it is so important to pay attention to detail as a leader and what the impact will be on your people
• Why, in his first team meeting after taking over at Bellarmine, he excused the four seniors and how that helped build the powerful culture which has helped them sustain an elite level of success
• What it takes to create a culture where your people think “this is where I want to be.”
• What the one thing is that extraordinary teams do

Additional resources:

• Twitter: @Bellarminehoops
• Website: https://athletics.bellarmine.edu/sports/mens-basketball

Ed Molitor, Sr. has 42 years of experience as an educator, coach and motivator. A firm believer that life and athletics is a “Frame of Mind Game”, Ed has presented to hundreds of coaches and student-athletes at clinics and sports camps throughout the Midwest. He also taught graduate classes to teachers and coaches on such topics as peak performance, leadership, team building, sports motivation and mental strength training. Inducted into the I.B.C.A. Hall Of Fame in 1997, Ed also serves on the All-State selection committee. A consummate motivator, he has developed a unique plan for athletes of all ages to reach their potential. When applied, his insights into motivation and thought management will certainly make a difference in a person’s life. He has helped a countless number of athletes learn to balance the stress of competition and the other areas of their lives. They are able to transfer what they have learned into a life of self-discipline, self-control, self-confidence and peak performance.

Coaching Resume:

• Head Basketball Coach Palatine High School, Palatine, Illinois 1976 - 2008
• Head Basketball Coach Marist High School, Chicago, Illinois 1969 - 1976
• Assistant Basketball Coach Marist High School, Chicago, Illinois 1968 - 1969
• Assistant Basketball Coach DePaul Academy, Chicago, Illinois 1966 - 1968
• Assistant Basketball Coach AA Illinois North All-Stars 1979 and 1992
• Head Basketball Coach AA Illinois North All-Stars 1993
• Assistant Coach for the Illinois Select AAU Team that defeated the Russian Junior National Team in 1988
• Served on the Basketball Advisory Board for the I.H.S.A. 1985 - 1988
• Serves on the I.B.C.A. All- State Board 1981-present
• Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997
• Conducted Basketball Camps throughout the Midwest 1973 – 2007

Teaching Resume:

• Physical Education, Palatine High School, Palatine Illinois 1976 – 2008
• Continuing Education Instructor for Pearson Professional Development, St. Xavier University, Chicago, Illinois 1990 - 2006
• Biology, Health and Physical Education, Marist High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1968 – 1976
• Biology, DePaul Academy, Chicago, Illinois 1966 -1968

Memberships:

• Member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches
• Member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• What were the defining moments in his life which influenced him to pivot away from a career as a doctor and become a teacher and a coach
• Why it is significant to understand the difference between ‘expectation of effort’ vs. ‘expectation of accomplishment’
• Why it is so important to never let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can do
• What his definition of success is, where it comes from, and how he has applied it to every area of his life
• How W. Clement Stone influenced his way of thinking and learning, especially his R2A2 formula
• How important it was to his success during his 42 years of coaching for his coaching philosophy to evolve while never compromising his core values
• What the difference is between negative and non-productive thinking
• What the difference is between a good leader and a great leader

JJ Gottsch is the longest-tenured employee with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment and has played a key role in the development of both the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros Triple-A) and Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A). He was promoted to his current position, COO, in January 2015. In this role he oversees all business operations for the Express, RS3 Turf, RS3 Strategic Hospitality as well as the company’s growing entertainment division. Gottsch was president of the Hooks for the club’s first five years, where his leadership and experience helped them draw more than two million fans in their first four seasons. Previous to his position in Corpus Christi, Gottsch served as assistant general manager for the Express during the first six years of the organization’s existence. Gottsch helped lead the franchise to record-setting attendance numbers, establishing a new Double-A home attendance record with 660,110 fans in the club’s first year, eclipsing the old attendance mark that had stood for 20 years. The franchise would proceed to break its own attendance standard in each successive season with Gottsch on board as a steadying influence.

A former player, Gottsch’s professional career included time with the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer League and the Perth Baseball Club in the Western Australia Baseball League. At the collegiate level, Gottsch played for Creighton University as well as TCU, where he was a member of the Horned Frogs1994 Southwest Conference Championship and NCAA Regional team. He transferred to TCU after spending three years at Creighton, where he was a shortstop on the 1991 Bluejay team that advanced to the College World Series.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• How the values of the Ryan and Sanders family...which include trust, honor, and respect....drive the decisions and behavior of Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment.
• How they turned a consistent customer complaint about their experience at the ballpark into a new and prosperous line of business.
• Why JJ believes so strongly in the sharing of best practices with others
• How Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment got creative by having their employees wear different hats and do different jobs so they could execute on cutting expenses and creating additional revenue
• How they focused on continuing to add value to their sponsors in as many creative and unique ways as possible
• When COVID-19 hit, how they were able to serve their people as well as the community by identifying what they had (five major sports venues stocked with food and beverage) and what they needed (people’s inability to get what they needed at the grocery store) that could fulfill.
• How all of their service to the community has resulted in a tremendous amount of pride in working together to be a part of the solution to a major crisis.

Additional resources:

• Website: https://www.rs3sports.com/
• Twitter: @jjgottsch
• Instagram: jjgottsch
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-j-gottsch-8497181/

Will Ferrell Pitching for Round Rock Express – Promotion with Will supporting his Cancer for College charity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haHlFA_bDkI&t=

Truckin & Buckin – A two-day simultaneous Monster Truck and Bull Riding Event in 2016- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-cWDZiXPa0

Fear the Walking Dead – We rented our stadium out to AMC Studios for six months (before our 2018 season) so they could shoot the first season of Fear the Walking Dead - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPYH7WMKPrs&t=103s *You’ll need to rewind back to beginning, it seems to be opening 1⁄2 way through

Home Run Dugout – A new startup in Austin basically a baseball version of Top Golf - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnkjqByAnO0&t=

Robert Raiola is the Director of the Sports and Entertainment Group and has over 20 years of sophisticated tax experience in both the public and private sectors. He provides tax planning strategies and business consulting to high net worth individuals and their families in the sports and entertainment field. Robert is widely known as the “Sports Tax Man” and has a following of approximately 50,000 on Twitter where there is a lively exchange of various sports, entertainment and tax topics.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Robert’s background and how he knew he wanted to be in the sports entertainment industry
• How Robert keeps up within the fast-paced industry of sports and all the laws in different states
• How Robert rose to become an expert in the sports industry and building his platforms
• Best opportunity Robert received due to his marketing strategy
• How Robert educates his clients and athletes around finances through social media and as a client relationship
• The lack of education for high-profile athletes around their finances
• Importance of understanding the taxes broadcasters have to pay from state to state
• Different requests that Robert used to receive as tax write-offs
• Challenges California pro sports teams have to maneuver to bring in top athletes at the top dollar
• Benefits of getting money up front and not into your salary as a pro athlete
• How much lobbying goes on within the state government form pro franchises to try to shape the tax laws
• The two states Robert believes are the best states for pro athletes
• An example of why a gross paycheck may not be the best net paycheck
• How much time Robert spends on Twitter
• An overview of how Trump's new tax laws change how expenses are written off
• Advice Robert would give to upcoming graduates about

Additional resources:

• Website: PKFod.com
• Twitter: @SportsTaxMan

• Women in sports – as participants, fans, and consumers – face inequities that demand new solutions from all angles of the industry. Laura Waters-Brown works daily to connect challenges to solutions, and build a career around creating tangible, positive change. Laura is responsible for the day-to-day relationship development, strategic planning, and project coordination of The Collective Think Tank: a global consortium of academics, brands, and properties committed to using research to make sustainable progress for women in sports. Prior to joining Wasserman, Laura worked for the PGA TOUR from 2016 to 2020. During those five years, her responsibilities included: identifying and monitoring digital trends and social media platforms to increase tournament ticket sales and revenue; and overseeing website communications, social media presence, and digital advertising for the TOUR’s flagship tournament, THE PLAYERS Championship. She also spent three years with the Cleveland Browns as a Digital Business Coordinator, where she oversaw website and social communications, as well as sponsorship development and digital revenue generation. Recognized as a digitally savvy professional – fluent in multiple media and social platforms – Laura has earned the trust of her peers, colleagues, and teams based on her ability to reimagine and energize engagement levels within global environments and communities. Fueled by her mother’s involvement in public service and civic engagement, Laura has a strong faith and passion for equity and inclusion. She’s involved in several professional and community groups and associations, including her Chair duties on the National Sports Forum’s Business of Diversity in Sports and Entertainment (BDSE), of which she has been a member for more than 5 years. An Ohio native, Laura received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from South Carolina State University and an MBA and Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. She enjoys music, and sharing love and laughter with family, friends, and her dog EZ. Laura, inspired by the scripture Mark 9:23, believes that anything is possible to those who believe. What you’ll learn in this episode:
  • How to identify who you need on board to create positive change
  • How you show your purpose through your actions
  • Why it is so powerful when you don't care who gets the credit
  • How to encourage your team members to bring their most honest and authentic selves
  • How The Collective Think Tank drives positive changes for equity among women in organizations
  • What is the biggest challenge event marketers face today for Gen Z
  • What is the key element that helped Laura excel in her roles as the Digital Business Coordinator of The Browns and with the PGA Tour
  • How Laura uncovered her career path
  Additional resources: Connect with Laura:
  • Laura’s LinkedIn
  • Laura’s Twitter
  About The Collective at Wasserman:
  • Website > www.wearethecollective.com/
  • Website > https://www.teamwass.com/
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Instagram