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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.”
It was only two years ago that Louis Sakanoko rushed to Hawaii from his home country of France just days before the start of the 2024 season.
It was quite a culture shock for the 6-foot-5 outside hitter, who struggled to speak English.
One thing he brought with him that has never gone away is his smile. His outgoing personality, and his love for life and volleyball, are evident every time he steps on the floor. It is why in just a short amount of time, in a place far away from home, Sakanoko has quickly become a fan favorite.
“I love it here so much,” Sakanoko said. “I stayed here all summer, and so I discovered a little more of all of the islands and it’s just an amazing place. And I’m so much more comfortable here than I was last year, so everything is all great.”
On a team loaded with talent at the pins, Sakanoko has managed to hold onto his spot as a starter. He started 21 matches last season and hit .259 while averaging 2.39 kills per set.
The practice gym has changed a lot since Sakanoko first got here.
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He’s one of only five players who have been with the team for more than two years.
“It is weird that it’s my third year now, but honestly it feels good,” Sakanoko said. “We have almost the same team as last year, and so it’s nice to have the same energy and the same team spirit and have this work ethic that I think everyone has now.”
Sakanoko is a big part of that team spirit. He was one of the first players in the gym for afternoon practice on Monday, and with that same smile, walked up and shook hands with all of the reporters gathered for a media session.
When asked how he manages to stay so happy, Sakanoko kept it simple.
“How can you not be (happy) in Hawaii?” he responded. “The people here are special, for sure, and the atmosphere is just so different. Like, it’s Christmas, and people are walking around in T-shirts. You can still surf. It’s the best place.”
The Rainbow Warriors are ranked No. 2 in the country to start the season and have a real shot at returning to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Sakanoko gutted his way through the end of the season last year despite getting hurt right before the UCLA match.
The way that season ended has made preparation for this year feel a little different.
“We always want to win a championship,” Sakanoko said. “I got injured before the semi and Kristian got hurt earlier and so we felt like we had it taken away from us a little. We gained some experience from that, but we all want to win a championship this year. I definitely feel like this could be our year.”
Sakanoko famously tied a UH record with nine aces in just his second match as a Rainbow Warrior.
He is one of five returning players who had at least 20 aces a season ago.
As Hawaii prepares to start the season tonight hosting New Jersey Institute of Technology at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, Sakanoko isn’t worried about the quick turnaround from the holiday break.
Practices with such a deep and talented team can at times seem a lot tougher than the actual matches.
“It’s funny, because when you come back from Christmas, you maybe haven’t played for a week or two and so maybe you think you’re a little slow, but you can’t be in these practices,” Sakanoko said. “Every single day in here is like a fight. You have to fight your way if you want to be on the court the next weekend. I think that’s why we’re so good. We have so many players that can push you, and that’s been that way ever since I got here.”
Sakanoko doesn’t think he’s changed much in his time at UH, but his attitude on the practice floor has been noticed by teammates.
Setter Tread Rosenthal, the only other third-year starter, singled out Sakanoko’s growth as a leader as one of the things to be excited about for this season.
“I think Louis has gotten much more mature and literally, this year, has taken a big step off the court of being more mature and more focused on what we need to do to be the best at the end of the year,” Rosenthal said.
Isabelle Hoppe, like most everybody else in the volleyball world, had heard the rumors. But it wasn’t until the end that she thought how it might impact her life.
Photos: Wisconsin volleyball 2025 season in photos
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) serves against UW Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew (17) is greeted by fans after taking the floor prior to a match against Southern California at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin defenders jump to block a spike by Kansas outside hitter Jovana Zelenovic (9) on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
The Wisconsin student section reacts after Wisconsin wins the third set against Kansas on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) sets the ball for a spike against Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) sets the ball against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wiss.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan, left, and middle blocker Carter Booth, right, go up for a block against UC-Davis Sept. 4.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) and Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth (52) yell after a block to win the first set against Purdue on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) elevates to contest a ball at the net against Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) is introduced prior to the match against Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) high-fives kids lined up before playing UC-Davis on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) hits the floor after saving the ball from touching the ground against Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) helps setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) off the floor after losing a point to Texas on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
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Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield huddles with his senior players following the teamÕs win over UNC during a second round NCAA Tournament match between the teams at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) watches as the ball flies in the air before a serve against Notre Dame on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) goes up for a spike against UC-Davis on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin players react after a Minnesota touch goes out of bounds on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
The Wisconsin bench celebrates after a point against UW Milwaukee on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) attempts to spike over three Iowa defenders on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Nebraska middle blocker Rebekah Allick (5) yells after a block on Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
A young fan smiles after getting a high-five from a Wisconsin player during introductions against Minnesota on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
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Wisconsin outside hitter Una Vajagic (1) dives for a ball flying out of bounds against Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) is introduced prior to the teamÕs non-conference match against Florida at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
JOHN HART,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) blocks a spike against Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Madison Quest (10) emerges from the locker room before playing Michigan on Saturday, Oct.5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin right side hitter Addy Horner (2) and Wisconsin middle blocker Natalie Wardlow (12) collide trying to set the ball against Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
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Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer (15) extends to hit a ball going out of bounds against Minnesota on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew (17) and right side hitter Wisconsin setter Charlie Fuerbringer (24) put up a block against Indiana outside hitter Jaidyn Jager (24) in the first set of a match at the UW Field House in Madison, Wis. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin outside hitter Grace Egan (32) lines up a bump after a return by Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at UW Field House in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth (52) reacts after a point against Kansas on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin players, including Wisconsin middle blocker Alicia Andrew, left, and libero/defensive specialist Kristen Simon (7) celebrate the teamÕs win over UNC during a second round NCAA Tournament match between the teams at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Trevell Jordan couldn’t have been happier with where he was.
The Mesa, Ariz., native was a roughly 30-minute drive from home at nearby Grand Canyon University, playing volleyball as a freshman for a school that was coming off an appearance in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.
Jordan started 21 matches before missing the last four with an injury and was named to the All-MPSF Freshman Team. The Lopes were eliminated in the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament, but despite an 18-10 season, the plan was to run it back.
“We were a really young team, so we were pumped for the upcoming season,” Jordan said. “We had already made a bunch of plans of all the things we were going to do together to get ready.”
One meeting that came on a couple of hours’ notice and lasted all of five minutes changed everything.
“It came out of the blue, on one Sunday morning, where our coach texted our group chat and (wrote) the (athletics director) wants to meet with you guys,” Jordan recalled. “This was over the summer and half our team already left for home and we got to the meeting thinking it was going to be about what it was going to be like next year with the coaches. The AD walked in, said we are cutting your program, and we got two questions off before she booked it out of the room. It was quick.”
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Suddenly, Jordan had to find somewhere else to play volleyball. He had chosen Grand Canyon because it was so close to home.
Never did he ever think his next journey would take him to an island six hours away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
“It was a big move to come across the ocean over here,” Jordan said.
Ultimately it was his connections to a bunch of players on the team that led to the 6-foot-10 sophomore middle blocker joining the Rainbow Warriors in the fall.
He knew sophomore hitter Finn Kearney, who grew up in nearby Phoenix, and also played with setter Tread Rosenthal, Justin Todd and opposite Kainoa Wade with Team USA.
Jordan was on the United States U21 team that won a bronze medal for the first time ever at the FIVB World Championships in China in August with Wade and Rosenthal.
“It was a really cool experience and achievement, especially for me. I didn’t make the first two USA teams. I was on the alternate roster, sadly, but I think that lit a fire underneath me for this last one,” Jordan said. “It really brought a better version out of me getting cut from those other two tryouts, and when I went in there, I went in with the mentality of, ‘I want to play.’”
That’s the same mentality Jordan is bringing into the practice gym at UH as he tries to crack the starting lineup on a loaded Hawaii team ranked No. 2 in the country in the preseason AVCA rankings entering today’s home opener against New Jersey Institute of Technology at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaii lost Kurt Nusterer — who had one year left of eligibility but left to pursue a major career opportunity — in the middle but returns sophomore Ofeck Hazan. UH also landed a 7-foot freshman in Roman Payne and has Justin Todd, another Team USA alum who can play both on the outside and in the middle.
Jordan landed in Hawaii for the first time in August when he came to start school.
Off the court, the biggest difference was getting used to the palm trees and the tropical climate after spending his whole life growing up in the desert.
On the court, Jordan is used to playing with some of the best players in the country in his experiences with the USA team.
Compared to his one year at Grand Canyon, the major difference is the daily grind that comes in the practice gym.
“We’re all talented and there is for sure a standard that has been set to the highest bar that we have,” Jordan said. “And that’s why you have to come into the gym every day to compete. There’s always going to be someone better than you, so that’s why you want to play to the best of your ability every day in the gym and get as much out of each other as you can.”
TREVELL JORDAN
6-10, Soph., Middle Blocker
All-MPSF Freshman Team (at Grand Canyon)
Hit .889 for Team USA to win bronze at FIVB World Championships
DeLand won its sixth consecutive district title and made the furthest postseason run in the Volusia-Flagler area in 2025.
The Bulldogs advanced to the Region 1-7A semifinals but had to play Winter Park, the No. 1 team in Florida. DeLand’s season came to an end there, but it was still a successful campaign for one of the area’s perennial powers.
