Every red-blooded American child can grow up to become an executive with a major pro team or intercollegiate athletics program—just as every red-blooded American child can grow up to be president of the United States. Well, it’s not quite as difficult as becoming president. But it’s close.
“There are a limited number of jobs in the pros,” says Ann Mayo, director of the Center for Sports Management at Seton Hall University. “While there are more jobs at the intercollegiate level, many of those jobs are entry level and require many years of service before an opportunity to move up becomes available,” adds Cary Groth, athletic director at the University of Nevada at Reno. Should you be fortunate enough to acquire an executive position within either professional sports or intercollegiate athletics, it will require good management skills and many hours of hard work.
Take Michael Heisley, the CEO of Heico Companies L.L.C., who purchased the then-Vancouver Grizzlies and moved them to Memphis in 2001. The purchase of the Grizzlies allowed him to achieve a dream, as he is a lifelong basketball fan. In 2002, Heisley hired Jerry West, who had had a Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers, to be president of basketball operations of the expansion Memphis Grizzlies. West is regarded as one of the top basketball executives in the NBA, he has been a player and a coach, and he spent nineteen years as an executive before entering basketball front office operations.
As the president of basketball operations of the Grizzlies, West assumed formal authority for the overall management of the entire organization. He was the figurehead and spokesperson for the franchise. He represented the organization at major functions and was involved in all its decisions.
Two of West’s main responsibilities were (1) establishing the goals for the organization and its members and (2) providing the leadership to see that those goals were accomplished. The Grizzlies’ main goal was to win an NBA championship. In pursuit of that goal, West appointed Hubie Brown to be the Grizzlies head coach starting with the 2002–2003 season. West said, “Brown is the ideal person to lead our team as our franchise grows toward achieving its goal of bringing an NBA championship to Memphis.” In 2004, Brown stepped down, citing health reasons, and he was replaced by Mike Fratello; under Fratello’s leadership, the Grizzlies made the postseason for the second year in a row. Before retiring as general manager in 2007, West had the task of monitoring the progress of the Grizzlies to determine if established goals were being met.
1. Using the provided example, what are each of the managerial functions, skills, and roles as they related to West’s position as president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.
2. How might West’s background have aided him in his success? What managerial roles were likely to be most important to West’s (and the Grizzlies’) success? Explain.
3. What managerial skills would be most effective in helping West, or any general manager, to achieve his goal of winning the NBA championship?
4. Review the websites for the Memphis Grizzlies – NBA: Memphis Grizzlies and the National Basketball Association – NBA to learn more about each organization and its personnel. Explain the similarities, if any, in how these organizations and their personnel apply management functions, skills, and roles.
