After Stu Upson announced that he’d be stepping down from his CEO position with USA Pickleball (USAP) at the beginning of the year, many wondered who would pick up where he left off. Today, USAP announced that longtime sports executive Mike Nealy will take over as CEO starting in mid-June.
Upson was the first-ever CEO of USAP, having started the position in December 2020. During his time with the organization, Upson was essential to its success by helping grow the organization and leading them through pickleball’s spike in popularity.
Now, Upson will assume the new role of League Commissioner of the National Pickleball League (NPL) starting June 1st. The NPL believes that Upson’s previous accomplishments in the sports industry and recent experience with USAP will help guide the league through its inaugural season.
With the NPL’s recent news of partnering with USAP to sanction its events, they will likely be in direct communication with the new USAP CEO, Mike Nealy. Nealy seems like the perfect fit for the position, having decades of experience in the pro sporting world.
Nealy’s resume includes spending over a decade in the NHL, as the VP of Finance and Controller of the Minnesota Wild and as the Executive VP, CFO, COO, and President of the Phoenix Coyotes, and most recently, eight years of experience as the Executive Director/CEO of the Fiesta Bowl for NCAA football.
As the Executive Director, Nealy was a huge part of the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s growth, bringing the event into the national spotlight as a premier college football playoff game. His efforts helped grow community involvement with the game, and he created a grant process that contributed over $20 million in charitable funds to nonprofit organizations all over the state of Arizona.
According to an interview from Nealy’s announcement that he was stepping down from the Fiesta Bowl, Fiesta Bowl Board Chair, Patrick Barkley, stated that Nealy was instrumental in the development of the organization:
“Mike was hired by the Fiesta Bowl eight years ago to help strengthen the Bowl as a preeminent organization, execute our charitable mission and expand our partner and sponsor base. He was the right person to help us meet our mission and objectives and we are deeply grateful for all of Mike’s contributions to the Fiesta Bowl Organization. We wish Mike the best in all his future endeavors.”
Patrick Barkley, Fiesta Bowl Board Chair
Before entering the world of sports, Nealy had an extensive business career with public and private companies. He held various financial leadership and management positions within Deluxe Corporation/eFunds. Most prominently, he was the Corporate Controller of a Deluxe subsidiary in Ohio and served as the Chief Financial Manager of a subsidiary in Wisconsin.
USAP believes that Nealy’s extensive background in corporate operations and his understanding of leading sports organizations make him an ideal candidate as CEO for USAP. USAP Board Chair Robert Quicksilver recognizes that this is a pivotal moment in pickleball and that Nealy is the leader they need to grow with the sport.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors and over 74,000 members, I am thrilled to welcome a sports industry executive of Mike’s caliber and pedigree to the USA Pickleball team. We have been impressed with Mike’s accomplishments and leadership, which have earned him widespread recognition and respect in the NHL and college football. At this pivotal time in our sport, which continues to grow at exponential rates, we are extremely confident that Mike is the right person to guide us, as the National Governing Body of pickleball, to the next level.”
Robert Quicksilver, USA Pickleball Board Chair
Nealy himself is a recreational pickleball player and sees his new position as an excellent opportunity to be a part of the game’s growth with hopes of bringing it to greater heights.
“I am honored to join USA Pickleball at such a period of growth for the sport—pickleball’s explosion has been incredible to witness. The potential of pickleball’s future cannot be understated. I am eager to dive into, and capitalize on, this tremendous opportunity.”
Mike Nealy, CEO of USA Pickleball
