Chief Operating Officer (COO)

NCAA Olympic Sports League – Startup Launch

About Us

We are launching a revolutionary professional and youth sports league that will transform Olympic sports in America. With $2.5B in equity funding , we’re licensing NCAA Division I school brands to create professional teams and comprehensive youth development programs across 12 Olympic sports including soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, and bat sports.

Starting with 50 schools in Year 1 and scaling to 300 schools by Year 6, we will operate:

• 600 professional teams across 12 sports
• Youth programs serving 500,000+ athletes (ages U23 down to grassroots)
• Multi-sport campus facilities at each school location
• National competition structure with regional leagues

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a major sports enterprise from the ground up.

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer will be the operational leader responsible for building and scaling all league operations from launch through explosive growth. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will oversee operations for 50 schools in Year 1 (growing 5-6x over five years), manage a $4.5B+ campus development program, and lead operational teams across sports, facilities, transportation, and technology.

This role requires exceptional organizational leadership, operational excellence at scale, and the ability to build systems and teams that can grow from startup to major sports league in 36 months.

Location: Charleston, SC (Relocation assistance available)
Compensation: $1.8M total (Base: $500K + Bonus: $400K + Equity/LTI: $900K)
Start Date: Q2 2026

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Partner with CEO and executive team to set strategic direction and operational priorities
• Build comprehensive operational roadmap for scaling from 50 to 300 schools over 5 years
• Lead annual and quarterly business planning, budgeting, and resource allocation
• Establish KPIs and operational metrics across all functional areas
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

League Operations & Competition

• Design and implement league structure across 4 regions, 8 leagues, and 12 sports
• Oversee season scheduling, competition format, and playoff structure for 600+ teams
• Ensure seamless coordination between professional and youth program operations
• Manage relationships with schools, venues, and competition facilities
• Establish standards for game operations, officiating, and player safety

Organizational Development

• Build and lead operational teams across multiple functional areas
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leaders and staff
• Create organizational structure that scales efficiently from 50 to 300 schools
• Establish operational processes, systems, and best practices
• Foster culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence

Campus Development & Real Estate

• Oversee $4.5B campus development program (30 facilities per year)
• Manage relationships with construction partners, architects, and developers
• Ensure campus facilities meet operational requirements for all sports and programs
• Coordinate facility operations including hotels, commercial space, and charter schools
• Drive campus revenue optimization and operational efficiency

Transportation & Logistics

• Oversee transportation operations for 500,000+ athletes (12 trips per player annually)
• Manage fleet operations (planes and buses) and logistics partnerships
• Optimize travel schedules, routes, and cost efficiency
• Ensure player safety and regulatory compliance
• Drive transportation as revenue-generating operation

Technology & Systems

• Partner with VP of Technology to implement league management platform
• Drive adoption of technology solutions for scheduling, operations, and analytics
• Establish data infrastructure for performance tracking and business intelligence
• Ensure technology systems scale with organizational growth

Financial & Business Operations

• Manage operational P&L and drive financial performance
• Ensure operational efficiency and cost management across all functions
• Partner with CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
• Drive revenue optimization across transportation, facilities, and programs
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities

Required Qualifications

Essential Experience

• 15+ years of progressive operational leadership experience
• 5+ years in C-suite or senior executive role (COO, President, EVP Operations)
• Proven track record building and scaling operations from startup through rapid growth
• Experience managing $500M+ operational budgets and complex P&L responsibility
• Success leading large, distributed teams across multiple locations (500+ employees)

Industry Experience (Must Have 2+)

• Professional sports league operations (team sports preferred)
• Youth sports programs or large-scale sports development organizations
• Multi-site facility operations or real estate development
• Transportation/logistics operations at scale
• Hospitality operations (hotels, events, tournaments)
• High-growth startups or venture-backed companies

Core Competencies

• Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to design, build, and optimize complex operations
• Scale Leadership: Track record taking organizations from early stage to maturity
• Team Building: Proven success recruiting, developing, and leading high-performing teams
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution
• Financial Acumen: Strong business and financial management skills
• Stakeholder Management: Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships
• Problem Solving: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Execution Focus: Bias for action with disciplined follow-through

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree from top-tier institution
• Experience with NCAA, college athletics, or amateur sports organizations
• Background in Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, baseball/softball)
• Startup founder or early executive experience (seed through Series B+)
• Experience with rapid geographic expansion and multi-site operations
• Technology platform implementation and digital transformation experience
• Real estate development or construction project management experience
• Experience in highly regulated industries

Success Metrics (First 12-24 Months)

Year 1 Objectives:

• Successfully launch operations for 50 schools and 600 professional teams
• Recruit and build operational team (50-75 headquarters staff)
• Implement league management systems and operational infrastructure
• Execute first season across all 12 sports with 95%+ on-time game completion
• Deliver 30 campus development projects on time and on budget
• Achieve operational budget targets and positive EBITDA contribution
• Establish transportation operations serving 500K+ athletes

Year 2 Objectives:

• Scale operations to 100 schools (2x growth)
• Achieve 90%+ customer satisfaction (schools, athletes, families)
• Optimize operational costs and drive margin improvement
• Build scalable systems ready for 300-school operation
• Develop leadership pipeline for continued growth

What We Offer

Compensation & Equity

• Base Salary: $500,000
• Annual Bonus: Up to $400,000 (based on company and individual performance)
• Long-Term Incentives: $900,000 in equity/phantom stock tied to company milestones
• Total Year 1 Compensation: $1,800,000

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance (100% premium covered)
• 401(k) with company match
• Unlimited PTO policy
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)
• Professional development budget
• Executive coaching and leadership development
• Home office setup allowance

Unique Opportunity

• Ground-floor opportunity to build a major sports enterprise from scratch
• Well-capitalized startup ($2.5B equity funding secured)
• Work directly with CEO and founding team
• Massive scale and impact (serving 3M+ athletes at full scale)
• Shape the future of Olympic sports in America
• Build lasting legacy in youth and professional sports

Our Culture & Values

We are building a performance-driven culture rooted in:

• Excellence: We set the highest standards and deliver exceptional results
• Impact: We transform lives through sports and create pathways to success
• Innovation: We challenge convention and pioneer new approaches
• Integrity: We operate with transparency, fairness, and accountability
• Collaboration: We win as a team and value diverse perspectives

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.