ATHENS, OHIO (Dec. 22, 2014) – Ohio University Center for Sports Administration announces Chad Estis ('94) as the 2015 recipient of the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus award.
"It truly means a lot to be named the 2015 Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus recipient," Estis said. "It is not merely a reflection on my career, but it is also a reflection on the many alumni who helped me along the way. Jim Kahler has served as an influential mentor to me, and it is my goal to reciprocate that to others along their way in this industry."
Chad arrived in Athens in 1989 to compete on the hardwood for the Ohio men’s basketball team. After his undergraduate graduation, he earned his Master’s in Sports Administration degree, finishing up in 1994.
From there, Chad held positions with Teamwork Consulting and Palace Sports & Entertainment. Following roles with those two organizations, Chad was named the Vice President of Sales The Tampa Bay Lightening; a position he held for two years.
For six years, Chad worked in Cleveland with the Cavaliers. As VP of Sales and Business Development from 2001-06, Chad implemented many new premium seating concepts. Chad served as Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer from 2006-07, overseeing all sales, marketing, community relations, communications, web site, and game operations.
Chad then led the stadium sales efforts for AT&T Stadium from 2007-10, where he guided a sales team of 60 people that set industry records for both PSL and suite sales revenue. Currently, Chad holds concurrent roles with the Dallas Cowboys and Legends Global Sales as the Executive Vice President of Business Operations and President, respectively.
"While I have known Chad for over 20 years now, it’s hard to put into words all that he has done and continues to do for Ohio University. His leadership role with the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium and Legends has placed him in a unique position to stay involved with our program in a meaningful way,” said Jim Kahler. “Chad has never forgotten where he got his start in this industry and is someone that we know will stay connected with our program for many years to come.”
About the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a graduate of the Ohio University Sports Administration program that has positively impacted the sports industry and the lives of others around them.
The award was founded in 1982 after the graduate program had been in existence for 15 years. Because many program graduates were already making a significant mark in the sport industry at this time, the faculty and administrators wanted to recognize these achievements. The award was created to specifically recognize those graduates who were making a noteworthy contribution to the sport industry through professional achievement, as well as making a notable contribution back to the program. The first recipient of the award was Andy Dolich from the class of 1971.
The award not only recognizes a standout graduate, but it helps to showcase the Ohio University Sports Administration and Facility Management graduate program, and demonstrate the caliber of the students. In addition, the award recognizes Dr. Charles Higgins, program director from 1977-1994 and current professor emeritus.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is officially presented to the honoree during Symposium weekend held each spring at Ohio University. Along with a variety of events held for the alumni and current students, the weekend is closed out with a keynote speech by the distinguished alumnus.
About Ohio University Sports Administration
As the first institution in the world to offer a master-level degree in Sports Administration, Ohio University has been a pioneer in the sports administration and business world for nearly 50 years. Ranked as the top graduate program in the world by Sport Business International for two consecutive years, Ohio continues its mission of producing the top sports business professionals each year.
The two-year MBA/MSA program prepares students for leadership positions by combining the business teaching of the Ohio University MBA program with sport-specific knowledge during the MSA program. This degree combination recognizes the growing complexity of the sports, facility and entertainment industries, and reinforces Ohio University's commitment to preparing students for the leadership challenges of the future. Please watch the video for testimonials from some of the program's prominent alumni.
