Media Contact:
Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-744-4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu
Kerry Bubolz summoned the nerve to call a stranger after reading an in-depth article
in his home city’s newspaper.
Bubolz was shifting between phases of life in the late 1980s, no longer playing community
college baseball in Arkansas and instead working toward a bachelor’s degree in marketing
at Oklahoma State University. He had a vague idea of the career he wanted but didn’t
know how he would get his foot in the door — or that he would someday hoist the Stanley
Cup as the president of a sports franchise that didn’t yet exist.
Around the time Bubolz was preparing for his senior year at OSU, a source of inspiration
practically jumped off the Tulsa World’s pages. With a spontaneous dose of gumption,
Bubolz found a phone number and reached out to the person he had just read about:
Joe Preseren, the then-general manager of the Tulsa Drillers.
“It really was fortuitous because I finally found exactly what I wanted to do,” Bubolz
said. “And I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Bubolz has learned the ins and outs of the sports industry, launching his career in
Minor League Baseball and rising to leadership roles in professional leagues across
several sports. He has two championship rings to show for it, one with the NBA’s Cleveland
Cavaliers and another with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, the flourishing franchise
Bubolz continues to build as president and chief executive officer.
Kerry Bubolz (right, in blue sport coat) celebrates the Stanley Cup with the Vegas
Golden Knights.
None of this would have happened without Preseren listening to an unknown, eager college
kid and taking a chance on him, offering Bubolz a summer job. As a 1989 marketing
graduate and a member of the Marketing Academy at Spears, Bubolz wants to be that champion for today’s students.
“Whenever young people reach out and they want to learn more about the business or
the industry, I take the time to do it just because I think it’s the right thing,”
Bubolz said. “So, when I was asked to be a part of this academy and spend some time
to come to Stillwater and meet some of the other graduates from the university over
the last 20 or 30 years, it was really a nice opportunity. But more importantly, it’s
about paying it forward and helping young people with opportunities.”
OSU’s School of Marketing and International Business selected 24 accomplished alumni
as members of the Marketing Academy at Spears, inviting them to contribute to the
future success of graduates.
Bubolz advises students not to be afraid of starting small. In fact, he recommends
it.
Rookie years
Bubolz, a Tulsa Memorial High School graduate, attended OSU at the same time as several
famous alumni.
Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders were etching their names in college football history.
As a former baseball player, Bubolz found comfort in Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, where
Robin Ventura crushed home runs and records. Sports surrounded Bubolz, and he wanted
to keep it that way. He imagined the excitement of working for a business like Nike
with iconic athletes Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan appearing in popular commercials.
Bubolz’s first job in the industry related to sports and sales, but it had less to
do with trendy sneakers and more with ballpark snacks.
Preseren invited Bubolz to meet in person after their initial phone conversation.
This led to Bubolz spending the summer after his junior year at OSU as the Tulsa Drillers
assistant concession manager. He managed inventory, placed orders, arranged event
staff schedules and checked employees into the ballpark on game days.
It wasn’t a flashy job, but Bubolz worked with the unsung heroes who gave the franchise
its heartbeat. Food and beverage operations accounted for a significant portion of
the team’s gross revenue.
“I learned a lot about that part of the business,” Bubolz said. “And then, of course,
over time, I started to learn the whole business.”
Bubolz continued to work for the Drillers as an OSU senior, living in Tulsa and commuting
to Stillwater to earn his degree. After two years with the Drillers, he went to another
Minor League Baseball organization, the Iowa-based Quad City River Bandits, before
landing his first general manager position in the now-defunct Continental Basketball
Association.
Bubolz then added a third sport to his résumé, working in minor-league hockey.
His decade in minor-league sports showed him the scope of moving parts within a franchise,
from ticket sales to sponsorships to operations and field maintenance. Bubolz proved
himself as a savvy marketer, drawing upon his OSU education and opening the door to
his big-league breakthrough.
After working as the vice president of sales for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, he
kept climbing with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003-16, eventually becoming
president of business operations. Bubolz had new responsibilities, navigating huge
national television sponsorships and international interest as one superstar forever
changed the franchise.
“We drafted a player by the name of LeBron James,” Bubolz said. “He was a pretty big
deal.”
The extraordinary events were far from over.
Making it big
Although Bubolz doesn’t usually wear fancy jewelry, he made a couple of exceptions.
In 2016, the James-led Cavs won their first NBA championship. In 2023, the Vegas Golden
Knights secured the Stanley Cup, a remarkable feat for a 6-year-old expansion team.
After each of those special seasons, Bubolz sported his new ring when he mingled with
fans, inviting them to hear the behind-the-scenes details.
“Each ring has seven or eight stories that were built into it creatively,” Bubolz
said. “That’s what I like about wearing the ring is sharing the stories.”
Red and white gemstones on the Cavs ring represent the wins and losses, respectively,
in the championship series against the Golden State Warriors, when Cleveland famously
rallied from a 3-1 deficit. The phrase “Cup in Six” is inscribed on the Golden Knights
ring, a nod to franchise owner Bill Foley’s bold but correct prediction about the
Knights needing only six years to rise as champions.
Bubolz shared these stories with fans because his business philosophy relies on the
power of community — the lifeblood of the small, local franchises where he established
his roots. He saw it on a larger scale, too, when Cavs fans collectively rejoiced
Akron native James’ 2014 homecoming from a stint with the Miami Heat.
Building a close-knit, family-like sports community in Las Vegas, a glitzy tourist
scene brimming with casinos and eccentric performers, presented a new challenge.
Nevertheless, Bubolz was determined when he assumed his position as the Golden Knights’
first president in 2016.
He and the team achieved the goal in Vegas style.
“When you come to a Golden Knights game, it’s an experience,” Bubolz said. “It’s a
show. It’s not just hockey.”
Taking inspiration from Vegas performers and NBA teams that include the Oklahoma City
Thunder, the Golden Knights experience starts half an hour before the game. This is
“Knight Time,” an array of festivities surrounding warmups, which motivates fans to
fill their seats early.
With lights, music and a cohesive brand identity Bubolz describes as a “modern medieval
theme,” the Golden Knights’ atmosphere receives notable praise. In 2018, Sports Business
Journal distinguished the Golden Knights as Sports Team of the Year. They accepted
their third Game Presentation of the Year Stanley Award from the NHL in 2024.
Behind the pomp and pageantry, there is authenticity. The Golden Knights engage in
various community outreach programs, and Bubolz frequently joins the team for those
events.
“We really wanted to be a connector of this community, utilizing the team as what
we called the golden thread that connected the community together in a really unique
and different way,” Bubolz said.
Heart of gold
If the Stanley Cup could talk, it would never run out of compelling stories. It’s
a long-standing NHL tradition for champions to each spend a day with the Cup, which
means the trophy has served as a drinking vessel, boarded boats and visited sentimental
places in players’ hometowns.
Bubolz started his day with the Cup at a cemetery.
The franchise president was honoring the request of a fan who lost her husband to
COVID-19. Soon before his death, the man told his wife he wanted the Stanley Cup to
visit his grave if the Golden Knights won. Although Bubolz had never received a similar
request, he didn’t hesitate.
“For me, it was just like, ‘Hey, it’s the right thing to do,’” Bubolz said.
That phrase motivates many of his actions.
Kerry Bubolz (center) welcomes Spears Business faculty Jerry Rackley and Kinda Wilson
to Vegas.
Jerry Rackley, assistant department head of OSU’s School of Marketing and International
Business, sees the impact.
“Under Kerry’s leadership and vision, the Vegas Golden Knights have attained remarkable
success in a very short time,” Rackley said. “Kerry and his staff know they can’t
control what happens on the ice, but they can orchestrate almost everything else,
and they do so superbly. They produce an innovative fan experience that rivals any
show on the Vegas Strip.”
Because Bubolz is in charge, it’s a Vegas spectacle with Cowboy hospitality.
Bubolz recently welcomed Rackley and lecturer Kinda Wilson to the Golden Knights’
facilities, working with the faculty members to develop content for Spears School
of Business marketing courses.
As Bubolz sat down to record videos for case studies, Rackley found inspiration in
the franchise president’s priorities.
“Part of the team’s success is the result of investing in the community,” Rackley
said. “The year the Golden Knights debuted; there were less than 100 kids enrolled
in first-year youth hockey programs in the city. Today, there are over 6,000, and
many of them play on the same ice the Golden Knights practice on. The team is living
out part of the Knights’ code that states, ‘Like hockey, community is a contact sport.’”
As Bubolz sat in his office in January and reflected on his time at OSU, a group of
kids maneuvered across the ice behind him. For only $10, visitors can skate at City
National Arena, the Golden Knights’ practice venue and headquarters, giving youngsters
a direct connection to the game.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
The same applies to business, and Bubolz is helping students build a foundation of
career readiness as a member of the Marketing Academy at Spears.
He knows one opportunity or piece of advice could change a student’s trajectory for
the better. It happened to him.
Bubolz continues to honor the memory of the late Preseren, the former Drillers manager
who made that difference.
“He took the time to allow me to come meet him,” Bubolz said. “I always remember that.
You have to pay it forward.”
HANOVER, N.H. – The Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Ivy vs. America East Challenge, marking their final home meet of the indoor season.
Both teams had impressive finishes, placing first overall. The women wrapped up the meet with a final score of 73.83, while the men finished with a score of 63.
Andie Murray won the women’s 500m, finishing the race in 1:15.39. Emmy Thornton clinched the 800m with a final time of 2:20.65. Claire McDonald placed first in the 3000m with her 9:59.68 mark. Mariella Schweitzer won the 60m hurdles with an impressive 8.67 finish, as well as the long jump with a 5.97 mark.
Charlotte DiRocco secured points for Dartmouth after clearing 1.65m in the high jump, finishing in first place. Similarly, Ellison Weiner cleared 3.65m to clinch first place in the pole vault. As for the throws, Kylee Bennett and Zaneta Pivcova clinched the weight throw and shot put, with 15.41m and 14.54m marks, respectively.
Jack Rousseau won the 400m for the men with his final time of 50.13, followed by Noe Kemper clinching the 800m with a 1:54.31 finish. Michael Bueker, Keion Grieve, Jack Inglis and Jack Intihar clinched the men’s 4×4 with a 3:27.64 finish. As for the jumps, David Adams cleared 4.95m to clinch the pole vault for the Big Green, Intihar clinched the long jump 7.14m mark and Roy Leibovitz won the triple jump with a 15.45m mark, which is good for No. 14 in the nation.
Colton McMaster rounded out the meet for the men, clinching the shot put and weight throw with 17.53m and 19.17m marks, respectively.
The Big Green will return to action when heading to New Haven, Conn., for the annual Dartmouth-Yale-Columbia meet on Saturday, Jan. 17.
A brand-new track and field facility will open in Athens on Feb. 18, aiming to serve both the University of Georgia campus and the local community, according to its athletic department.
Located on South Milledge Avenue, the complex will feature a 400-meter, nine-lane Spec Towns Track with an infield long jump, a triple jump and a pole vault facility. The venue will have a capacity of 2,500 that can accommodate up to 4,000 for select events with a grandstand, a press box, an observation deck, restrooms and concession stands.
The new venue replaces the old one on South Lumpkin Street, which had not hosted an event for the Georgia men’s or women’s track and field team since April 2023. Now, the Bulldogs are slated to host the Spec Towns Invitational at the new complex this April, the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in May and the SEC championships in 2027.
High school competitions will also be held at the new facility with theClassic City Track and Field Invitational scheduled for March, making it the first competition on the venue’s calendar, and the GHSA state track meet in May.
The project, which cost $59.8 million, was funded exclusively by donations and gifts, and will become one of the “premier track and field destinations in the country,” according to the university’s director of athletics Josh Brooks.
“We are excited about the opportunities this facility will create for our athletes, our campus and our community,” Brooks said. “While it will support our student-athletes at the highest level, it will also create opportunities that will bring athletes of all ages to our campus throughout the year.”
The new complex will have a strong emphasis on strengthening ties between the university and local community, as public usage hours will give residents a new place to run and exercise, while big events can boost the local economy through hotel stays and visits to local businesses and restaurants.
“The Classic City Track and Field Invitational in March will mark the first competition in the new facility, bringing a regional high school meet to campus and expanding access to elite facilities for local student-athletes,” Alison McCullick, the university’s director of community relations, said. “In addition to competitions, the space will remain open for walking, running and everyday recreation, making it a year-round asset for the university and Athens.”
LONG BEACH, Calif. — In their collegiate debuts, Jackson Cryst and Jake Pazanti made immediate impacts for Long Beach State men’s volleyball, earning Big West Player of the Week honors following a dominant opening weekend. The Beach opened the 2026 season with two straight-set victories, defeating Lindenwood and McKendree at the Pyramid, as Cryst was named Men’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week and Pazanti earned Long Beach State Freshman of the Week recognition.
Cryst anchored the Long Beach State defense in his first collegiate action, averaging 1.50 blocks per set and totaling nine blocks over the weekend. His presence at the net helped limit opponents to a combined .157 hitting percentage and contributed to the Beach averaging 3.33 blocks per set across the two matches. Cryst also added seven kills on .462 hitting, showing efficiency and composure on both sides of the net.
Pazanti also impressed in his collegiate debut, directing the Long Beach State offense with poise and balance. The freshman setter recorded 58 assists (9.67 per set) while guiding the Beach to a .351 team hitting percentage in the opening weekend.
In addition to his setting responsibilities, Pazanti contributed six kills on .750 hitting, 16 digs, five blocks, and two service aces, impacting the match in every phase during his first career starts.
Long Beach State men’s volleyball returns to action this week with a three-game road stretch through the Buckeye State to face Central State, George Mason and Ohio State as the Beach continue early-season competition following a successful opening weekend.
WESTON, Mass. — Hannah Griffin, Zoe Kirk, and Justin Thuotte each represented the Pride this week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards. Kirk earned her second Rookie of the Week honor of the season, while Griffin collected her first career Track Athlete of the Week award. Thuotte was named Field Athlete of the Week, marking his first honor of the season and the fifth weekly award of his career.
Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Micklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 9.93.
Hannah Griffin captured the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.
Justin Thuotte delivered another standout performance at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, winning the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 from the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.
Regis track and field stays close to home this weekend, traveling to Brighton, Massachusetts, to compete at the Suffolk Ice Breaker at The Track at New Balance.
MILWAUKEE – Ella Parker has been announced as the newest addition to the Milwaukee volleyball roster, head coach Susie Johnson announced on Monday afternoon.
Parker will join the Panthers this spring after spending the last three semesters at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., where she was a member of the Red Storm for the past two seasons.
“We are excited to add Ella to our team this spring,” said Johnson. “Having played in the Big East Conference, she has match experience and will bring a lot to our program in the Horizon League. We’re excited that she not only can score points for us but defend as well.”
This past fall, Parker played in 16 matches for St. John’s and recorded 138 kills, along with 10 service aces, 26 digs, and 15 blocks. She posted a season-high 16 kills on Oct. 4 at UConn while hitting .361 and later recorded a season-best .692 hitting percentage with nine kills without an error against LeMoyne earlier in the year.
As a true freshman in 2024, Parker saw action in three matches before an injury ended her season.
Originally from Corrales, New Mexico, Parker was a three-year member of the Cougar volleyball team at Cibola High School in Albuquerque. During her prep career, she earned AVCA Girls High School All-Region honors as both a junior and a senior and was named to the All-American Watch List.
A multiple-time All-State, All-Region, All-Area, and All-Conference selection, Parker was also chosen for the New Mexico Red and Green All-Start Team. She set Cibola program records for both most kills in a season and most kills in a match.
Parker played club volleyball for Duke City Volleyball Academy and competed in beach volleyball with the Albuquerque Beach Volleyball Academy. Away from the court, she was also a competitive swimmer for more than 10 years.
Parker joins fellow transfer Kameron Stover, along with incoming freshmen Olivia Doerre, Emma Duffy, Kayla Landerud, and Hope Wagner as newcomers for the 2026 volleyball season.
PORTLAND, ORE. – The University of Alaska Anchorage had three Seawolves earn GNAC Athlete of the Week honors for indoor track and field.
Liv Heite was named the women’s track athlete of the week. Her top effort was a 60-meter hurdles time of 8.91 seconds, upping her name to third on the GNAC performance list this winter. Heite is the reigning GNAC silver medalist in the event from last season. She also ran 8.09 seconds in the 60 meters, 26.02 seconds in the 200 meters and ran a leg of a UAA 4×400 meter relay squad that posted 3:57.48 minutes to round out her productive weekend. Now in her third season at UAA, Heite is a four-time GNAC medalist earning silver in both the 2024 and 2025 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), silver in the 2025 60-meter hurdles (indoor), and silver in the 2025 400-meter hurdles (outdoor)
“Liv looks like she is ready to pick up where she left off,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “She started the season off faster than she did last year and ran consistently over the weekend. I think she is ready to take it to the next level.”
Sarah Dittman was named the women’s field athlete of the week. She kicked things off with a high jump mark of 4-11.75 feet (1.52 meters) and a long jump of 17-4.25 feet (5.29 meters), placing fifth in both events. Each of those marks slotted her fourth among GNAC competitors so far in the indoor season. Dittman also contributed on the track, running a 200 meters time of 26.79 seconds, a 60-meter hurdles time of 10.61 seconds and running a leg of UAA’s 4×400 meter relay unit that posted a time of 4:14.89 minutes.
“Sarah had an encouraging start to her college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “I am really looking forward to seeing where her growth and development over the course of this season is going to take her.”
Tyler Drake was named the men’s field athlete of the week. His weekend was highlighted by a third-place finish in the long jump, as he cleared 22-3 feet (6.78 meters). That stands as the second-best long jump by a GNAC athlete so far this season. On the track, he posted times of 23.55 seconds in the 200 meters and 8.36 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
“Tyler had himself a great start to his college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “He set personal bests in the hurdles and long jump and moved himself into the top-10 on UAA’s performance list. His long jump start is even more encouraging because of how obvious it is that he still has so much room to grow.”
