Mike Waddell (sports administrator)

Mike Waddell
Biographical details
Born	Hickory, North Carolina
Alma mater	Guilford College (BS); Ohio University (MA)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2001–2006	Akron (assoc. AD/interim AD)
2006–2010	Cincinnati (senior assoc. AD)
2010–2013	Towson (Director of Athletics)
2013–2014	Arkansas (senior assoc. AD)
2014–2016	Illinois (senior assoc. AD)
2016-2018	International Speedway Corporation (vice president)
2018–2019	Orlando Apollos (president)
2019–2020	Orlando Storm (president)
2020–Present	Allen Americans (president)(alternate governor)

Mike Waddell is an American professional sports executive who is the President and Alternate Governor of the ECHL's Allen Americans. He is also the of BRENTWOOD PARTNERS, LLC, a sports consulting firm, where he is currently of counsel.

Previously Waddell was President of the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football. Along with Head Coach Steve Spurrier and General Manager Tim Ruskell, Waddell was part of the leadership team that pushed the Apollos to an Alliance-best 7-1 record, and which averaged over 20,000 fans per home game at Spectrum Stadium, and sold over 5,400 season tickets. Following the AAF's folding, Waddell also worked with World TeamTennis on a contract basis through BRENTWOOD PARTNERS, LLC to provide counsel to the Orlando Storm in advance of the team's second season in 2020.

Waddell relocated to Orlando in 2018 after serving as Vice President at Richmond Raceway in NASCAR from 2016 to 2018, where he oversaw the reformation of the ticketing, marketing and communications units, and founded the first-ever NASCAR track owned eSports team. ^[1]

He previously spent 28 years in college athletics, including three as the Director of Athletics at Towson University from 2010 to 2013.^[2]^[3]

Earlier in his career Waddell served in executive positions in the athletics departments at the University of Akron from 2001 to 2006, the University of Cincinnati from 2006 to 2010, the University of Arkansas from 2013 to 2014, and the University of Illinois from 2014 to 2016.

Waddell began his career in college athletics as a radio and television broadcaster at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1991 to 1994, the University of Virginia from 1994 to 1997, Appalachian State University from 1997 to 2000, and the United States Military Academy at West Point from 2000 to 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Early life, education, and family[]

Waddell was born in Hickory, North Carolina and graduated from The Asheville School in 1988. He went on to play football at Guilford College where he earned his bachelor's degree in sports management in 1991. Waddell continued his education later in his career at Ohio University where he completed a master's degree in sports administration in 2010.^[4]

Career[]

Waddell made the transition to pro sports in 2018 when he was named President of the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) on August 4, 2018 and remained in this position until the AAF ceased operations in April, 2019. ^[5]^[6]

On March 25, 2020 Waddell agreed to terms with the ECHL's Allen Americans to become the club's President & Alternate Governor. He was elevated to Governor of the Organization in March 2021.

References[]

^ Wilson, Steven B. (July 20, 2016). "Richmond International Raceway Names Michael Waddell Vice President of Marketing and Communications". Speedyay Digest. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
^ "Towson to name Cincinnati's Mike Waddell its new athletic director". The Baltimore Sun. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
^ Markus, Don (May 20, 2013). "Mike Waddell leaving Towson for job in Arkansas' athletic department". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
^ [1]
^ Ruiz, Stephen (August 28, 2018). "Alliance of American Football taps Richmond Raceway exec as Orlando's president". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^ Asmussen, Bob (February 20, 2019). "Ex-UI administrator fights to boost AAF at helm of Apollos". The News-Gazette. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.

[2]

External links[]

[1] Wilson, Steven B. (July 20, 2016). "Richmond International Raceway Names Michael Waddell Vice President of Marketing and Communications". Speedyay Digest. Retrieved February 20, 2019.

[2] "Towson to name Cincinnati's Mike Waddell its new athletic director". The Baltimore Sun. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

[3] Markus, Don (May 20, 2013). "Mike Waddell leaving Towson for job in Arkansas' athletic department". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

[4] [1]

[5] Ruiz, Stephen (August 28, 2018). "Alliance of American Football taps Richmond Raceway exec as Orlando's president". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 28, 2018.

[6] Asmussen, Bob (February 20, 2019). "Ex-UI administrator fights to boost AAF at helm of Apollos". The News-Gazette. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]