Navigating Sports Business AJ Maestas

Joe Moglia - Former Head Football Coach at Coastal Carolina, also formerly CEO of TD Ameritrade - on the possibility of the Power 5 football programs divorcing themselves from the NCAA, and why he thinks that's the logical next step for college athletics.
He gives solutions for some of his plans' toughest challenges, including funding non-revenue sports if football dollars are no longer part of the same balance sheet.
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=3682fa61d7126eb5380a36a103fbadf5
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Chris Davis - Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President of Merchandising at New Balance - offers a great look into his philosophy for innovation and constant industry disruption. He explains how sports and culture have never been more intertwined than they are today, and what that means for brands like New Balance that are looking to establish themselves at that intersection.
 
Details
1:30 - Chris’s background
7:40 - Diverse perspectives
10:10 - The million dollar internship - Darius Bazley
12:30 - The ultimate challenger brand
21:25 - the 50-30-20 Strategy
30:25 - Recruiting athlete endorsers
37:20 - Marketing in baseball vs. other sports
43:55 - Recession-proofing
49:00 - Rapid Fire Questions
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Richard Lapchick – Director of The Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sport (TIDES) and President of The Institute for Sport and Social Justice (ISSJ) – shares an incredible story about the power of sports, and his personal relationship with Nelson Mandela.
 
After being inaugurated as president of South Africa, Mandela chose to attend a soccer game, rather than the ongoing celebrations of his inauguration. He sat with Lapchick as his personal guest, and explained that he chose to attend the game in order to show appreciation for the sporting boycotts that helped free him from prison and supported his rise to the presidency.
 
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=fe69ef5b370f9c8e6ae69e9cf2aebfcd
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Josh Brooks - the Director of Athletics at University of Georgia - sheds some light on the life of an SEC AD during an immensely successful period, including back-to-back national championships in football.
 
He details the highs and lows of the job, including the elation of victory, and then the reality that you are back to the grind within 24 hours. He also shares advice for the next generation of sports leaders hoping to one day sit in his chair.
 
Details
1:40 - What’s next after a national championship?
5:15 - A day in the life of an AD
17:30 - Josh’s career path
27:35 - Changes to collegiate athletics
36:40 - Rapid Fire Questions
 
Books:
Unreasonable Hospitality The Creative Act: A Way of Being
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Terrell Jones - Head of Sports Strategic Partnerships at Flexpower - on how to be strategic with your endorsement budget with an economic recession looming, and how being smart with your money is crucial regardless of the situation.
 
He shares his preference for targeting up-and-coming athletes that "grow with the company," and gives some examples of deals he's seen go wrong due to the brand having insufficient information.
We know that in a recession, brands that continue or increase marketing spend, see a 2.5x increase in sales, compared to competitors who cut back. Learn more in our guide to recession-proofing your sponsorship strategy: https://nvgt.com/blog/recession-proofing-your-sponsorship-strategy-2023/
Listen to the full episode here: https://nvgt.com/podcast/?ppplayer=98f56b6dd6dca41729f186d12a4d1251&ppepisode=a6e9de81e68969273683f9a4960990ed
 
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

Chris Pezman - Vice President for Athletics at the University of Houston - breaks down the transition to the Big 12, and the work that still needs to be done to compete at that level.
He and AJ also discuss his first stint at UH as captain of the football team, the unlikely story of how he got a new stadium built as one of his first ever facilities projects, and the legend of Mattress Mack.
 
Details:
2:15 - Houston’s transition to the Big 12
13:50 - Standing out in the Power Five
22:55 - Chris’s start at UH as the captain of the football team
29:25 - Optimizing facility revenue
34:00 - Rapid Fire Questions
Mattress Mack video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHPlVp2UfE8
For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.