Jerry ColangeloChairman & Chief Executive Officer Phoenix Suns Throughout his storied career, Jerry Colangelo has succeeded with a unique combination of savvy and experience to become one of the top executives in professional sports. Colangelo, who has been the face of the Phoenix Suns since their debut in 1968, has served the club as general manager, head coach, president, and now chairman and chief executive officer. Colangelo has won the NBA Executive of the Year Award an unprecedented four times. Currently the chairman of the NBA's Board of Governors, he has served on several NBA committees and has been instrumental in the league's growth. In recognition of Colangelo's many contributions, he was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. Nationally, The Sporting News has named Colangelo one of the most powerful people in sports throughout the last decade, and in April 2005, he was appointed to the newly created position of managing director of USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program for the 2005-2008 quadrennium. In addition, Colangelo helped bring the National Hockey League (Phoenix Coyotes) and Major League Baseball (Arizona Diamondbacks) to the Phoenix area. He served as the Diamondbacks' chairman from 1995 to 2004, a stint highlighted by the club's 2001 World Series victory. Colangelo's commitment to Phoenix transcends sports and he is well-known as one of the city's most active community leaders. In appreciation of his efforts, the city of Phoenix recently celebrated Jerry Colangelo Day and the Valley of the Sun United Way bestowed its highest honor, the "Spirit of Caring" award, upon him.
A native of Chicago Heights, Colangelo earned All-Big Ten honors in basketball at Illinois and has been inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. |