2. Born on October 21, 1963 In Columbus
Ohio
Attended Worthington High School
3. Attended the University of Michigan.
Played Baseball from 1983-1986
Made Captain as a Senior
Big Ten Conference Player of the
Year(1986)
First Team All-American
Big Ten Medal of Honor Winner
4. Drafted 7th round by the Yankees (1986)
Played three seasons in minors for
› Oneonta Yankees(1986)
› Alabany-Colonie Yankees(1987-1988)
Transferred to Seattle Mariners AAA
Club(1989-1990)
Ended Pro Baseball Career in 1990
5. 1992, Became associated with IMG
› Baseball Division
1993 , Began Representing Derek Jeter
2000, 3 year $189 million Contract for Jeter
2006, Left IMG and Joined Creative Artist
Agency
2007, Signed Ryan Howard
› Negotiated a 5 year $125 million 2010
2011, Left CAA to start Excel Sports
Management
6. “When you put so much of your life into the
practice and preparation of being the best thing
you can be, you kind of expect to reach the
pinnacle of that and you expect all of your hard
work to come into fruition," Close said. "When it
doesn't, obviously, there is a level of
disappointment.“
Realized he wouldn't make it in the majors
Wanted to build off his experiences
He had always been fascinated with numbers and
negotiations.
7. Always on the Clock
Researching players
Talking/meeting with clients
No daily routine
Lots of traveling
8. That's just the way I've always wanted to live my life,
You're always going to have people that fall on the
good side of the fence and people that are going to
fall in the not-so-good side.
"There's been some great people out there in the
business and there were guys to emulate, but I
always wanted to do it my way. If you're going to
have any amount of success, you ultimately need to
choose your own path that fits in your personality and
what you're all about.“
His philosophy of fair-dealing has and allowing his
work - not his name
11. Cooperating with other Volleyball
Organizations
Deals with Competition and Player issues
In front of the media
Promoting Sport through Sponsorships
and Television
12. Interested in Volleyball at an early age
Earned AAA ranking at 15.
Attended SDSU on a basketball
Scholarship
Drafted in 10th round by San Diego
Clippers
Back to SDSU for Volleyball
13. 1980, Joined the Men's National Team
1982, Left to Italy to play Beach Volleyball
1982-1997, Played for AVP
1994-1997, AVP Best Defensive player
1996, Won Olympic Silver Medal
1998, AVP Broadcast Team
2000, Beach Analysts for Olympic Games
2004, Indoor Analysts for NBC
2008, Coached Team USA for Beijing Olympics
2010, Named AVP Commissioner
14. “I’m a student of the game and always
looking for different ways to teach and
inspire, whether it’s on a volleyball court
or now, in an office.”
“Every day I wake up excited to go into
an office.”
