Ask Frank Vuono if he harbors any regrets about leaving the NFL in 1993, and he laughs. “None at all,” he says, smiling, “until I found out that Roger Goodell was making $40 million-plus.”
Inquire about what’s he’s proudest of, and it’s not any particular deal. Like so many late in their career, he’s most content with the people he’s helped train, now working across the industry; many are quoted across SBJ’s pages.
“To have mentored so many still working and achieving in sports is a great feeling of leaving something permanent,” Vuono said.
It’s a coaching tree that includes:
Jordan Bazant: EVP, business development, Fox Sports
Eric Bechtel: Founder/CEO, IdeaQuest
Emilio Collins: Partner/CBO, Excel Sports Management
Jamey Crimmins: Owner, Seize Talent Management & Marketing
Ted Dalton: EVP/chief partnership officer, Boston Celtics
Evan Frankel: CEO, Jigsaw Labs
Peter Hughes: Playbook for Health
Ray Katz: COO/co-founder, Collegiate Sports Management Group
Dan Keats: Director of sponsorships and consumer engagement, Allstate
Cliff King: Director of sports marketing, Jordan Brand
Tara Kolarsick: Senior account director, Allied Sports
Mike Loparo: VP of merchandising, Legends
Brian Mieth: SVP, business development and sports marketing, ICON International
Pete Milano: Corporate partnerships and licensing, Yeti
Jim Murray: Partner/co-head, WME Baseball
EJ Narcise: Co-founder/principal Team Services, Inc.
Brian Nelson: SVP, Allied Sports
Bob Philp: EVP/head of athlete relations, Pathway Sports and Entertainment
Peter Raskin: Founder, Rubicon Talent
Josh Schwartz: Director of strategic partnerships, San Francisco Ballet
Jeff Sofka: CEO, Playbook for Health
Russ Spielman: President of sports marketing, GSE Worldwide
Lonny Sweet: President and CEO, Sweet Management Group
Jim Tucker: Founder/principal, Highway 95 Sports + Entertainment
Ralph Vuono: COO, business operations for the North Carolina Courage (NWSL) and North Carolina FC (USL Championship)
Tom Weiner: Senior director sales and partnerships, TopView
Carter Westfall: CEO and co-founder, Natural Selection Tour
Jason Zinna: Co-head, Range Access
Collins said [Frank] Vuono “taught me and everyone at ISI the value of hustle, salesmanship and relationships.”
Added Fred Fried, an ISI partner: “There’s nothing more I enjoy than running into our alumni at a game or event. We’d try to teach everyone to think outside the box. The truth about what made Frank successful is that he always thought over and above whatever box was under consideration. If they picked up any of that. … ”
