PHOENIX — USA Pickleball, the Nationwide Governing Physique for the game of pickleball, named Mike Nealy as its new Chief Government Officer. Nealy, a extremely regarded longtime sports activities govt, will start his new place at USA Pickleball in mid-June.
Nealy served for eight years as Government Director of the Arizona Sports activities Basis, which operates the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, one in all six faculty soccer bowl video games that’s a part of the Faculty Soccer Playoff. He’s broadly credited with restoring the Fiesta Bowl’s standing as one of many premier bowl video games within the U.S.
Beneath his management, the Fiesta Bowl received the Phoenix Enterprise Journal Company Philanthropy Award in 2018 for its notable neighborhood impression, donating extra in charitable giving yearly than every other faculty soccer bowl group. Nealy was additionally acknowledged with the Jerry Colangelo Integrity Tiger Award, introduced by the Arizona Commerce Authority, and was named to Phoenix Enterprise Journal’s Most Admired Leaders record in 2018.
“On behalf of our Board of Administrators and over 74,000 members, I’m thrilled to welcome a sports activities trade govt of Mike’s caliber and pedigree to the USA Pickleball workforce,” mentioned USA Pickleball Board Chair Robert Quicksilver. “Now we have been impressed with Mike’s accomplishments and management, which have earned him widespread recognition and respect within the NHL and faculty soccer. At this pivotal time in our sport, which continues to develop at exponential charges, we’re extraordinarily assured that Mike is the fitting individual to information us, because the Nationwide Governing Physique of pickleball, to the following degree.”
“I’m honored to affix USA Pickleball at such a interval of progress for the game—pickleball’s explosion has been unbelievable to witness,” mentioned Nealy, a Minnesota native who has resided in Phoenix for the previous 17 years. “The potential of pickleball’s future can’t be understated. I’m desperate to dive into, and capitalize on, this large alternative. As a leisure pickleball participant who’s hooked on the game like hundreds of thousands of others, I sit up for advancing USA Pickleball’s mission and taking the group to even better heights. I wish to personally thank Robert Quicksilver and USA Pickleball’s Board of Administrators for entrusting me with this crucial duty.”
After leaving the Fiesta Bowl in March of 2022, Nealy has most just lately served as an expert guide for sports-related companies, working underneath Nealy Group, LLC.
Previous to heading the Arizona Sports activities Basis and the Fiesta Bowl, Nealy spent eight years with the Nationwide Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes), finally serving for 4 years as President, Chief Working Officer and Alternate Governor. On this position, Nealy was accountable for overseeing all enterprise operations for the Coyotes and Jobing.com Area and, as Alternate Governor, represented the group at NHL Board of Governors conferences.
Along with restoring the soundness of the franchise and elevating its standing within the league and Phoenix neighborhood, Nealy additionally achieved record-breaking gross sales and working successes. His efforts earned the Coyotes nationwide recognition, most notably in 2012 when ESPN The Journal chosen the Coyotes because the sixth-best skilled sports activities franchise in North America as a part of the publication’s annual Final Standings, which measured how a lot sports activities groups give again to their followers. Earlier than becoming a member of the Coyotes in 2006, Nealy spent 4 seasons with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, the place his duties included strategic planning and finance.
Nealy, who turns into the second CEO in USA Pickleball’s historical past, replaces present CEO Stu Upson, whose ultimate day with the group was Might 31.
Nealy earned a grasp’s diploma in enterprise administration and a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise from the College of Minnesota. He and his spouse, Brenda, reside in Phoenix and are the dad and mom of a daughter, Regan, and a son, Simon.
