SPKN Board Members

TEAM

Executive Board Members Advisory Board Members

OUR VISION + MISSION

MISSION

To provide sport industry professionals with the evidence-based knowledge and tools necessary to develop today’s athletes –mentally, physically, and emotionally.

VISION

That all sport industry professionals have the high-quality professional development they need to develop the whole human athlete.

WE BELIEVE

•At the core of superior and inspired sport performance is a balanced, fully developed athlete.

•A better world of sport, led by integrity, diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its practices, will make our athletes and industry stronger.

•Sport has the potential to affect positive change in the lives of individuals, communities, and societies when led by adults who have the ability to harness its power effectively.

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WILSON Founder & CEO SPKN

Meg Wilson is a former U.S. Junior National tennis player and a two-sport, NCAA Division I student-athlete in crew and tennis at Boston College. Her experience ranges from player to coach to parent to professional. She received her Bachelor of Arts & Science degree in communication with a focus in psychology and a Masters of Arts in Sport Coaching from the University of Denver.

As a founding member of SPKN, she has worked with several regional sporting organizations in sport performance and coach development, including IMG, Positive Coaching Alliance, ECNL, AYSO, Coyote Lacrosse, MVLA Soccer, and many others. Meg has coached and managed elite athletes in multiple sports in the San Francisco Bay area for over 25 years.

Dr. Brian Gearity is the Founding Director and Associate Tenured Professor of undergraduate and graduate Sport Programs at the University of Denver. A teenage powerlifting champion and Division III football player, Dr. G’s passion for weight training set him on the path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach at the high school, collegiate, and professional level, including stops with the Cleveland Guadians Baseball team and University of Tennessee.

Dr. Brian GEARITY Founder & Chief Academic Officer

An internationally recognized scholar-practitioner, Dr. G is a sought-after speaker and consultant on coach development, psychosocial aspects of coaching, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2020, Brian released two books that were published by Routledge, Coach Education and Development in Sport: Instructional Strategies and Understanding Strength and Conditioning as Sport Coaching: Bridging the Biophysical, Pedagogical and Sociocultural Foundations of Practice.

Charlie is the Managing Partner of The Golden State Company, based in Los Angeles and Atlanta. TGSC is an organization innovating at the intersection of media and marketing and is an interconnected house of lifestyle brands and companies operating in the digital media, e-commerce, and agency markets. Full disclosure, TGSC owns our fullservice advertising agency, Moon Tide.

KOONES

Managing Partner Golden State Company

Charlie is an executive and entrepreneur who has run all aspects of advertising agencies and broad-based, traditional and digital media organizations. He specializes in strategy, brand building, all aspects of content marketing, media sales, creative and business development. Seer of opportunities and challenges, designer of solutions, and leader who gets things done.

David MOSELEY Director , AAU Mavericks Basketball

David Moseley (Coach Mose) hails from a long line of outstanding guards for the Stanford University Cardinal and played from 1996 to 2000. He concluded his prep career in New Mexico as the 1996 Gatorade Player of the Year. The following year at Stanford, Coach Mose earned All Pac-10 Frosh Honorable Mention; and, as a senior captain in 2000, he earned All Pac-10 Honorable Mention. Moseley helped the Cardinal win two Pac-10 championships and a trip to an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998.

Coach Mose played professionally in France, Turkey, Hungary, Argentina, and Venezuela. Averaging 15 points and 5 assist per game, Moseley's teams competed in the playoffs every season and played in two championship series during his career. In addition to Coach Moseley's leadership of the Mavericks, he is the Head High School Varsity Basketball Coach of The Priory School in Portola Valley, CA and previously coached a local super elite AAU U17 boys team, prior to the Mavericks. He has also coaches extensively with younger kids in NJB's Redwood District, both division and All-Net levels.

Joanne Pasternack is a dynamic and visionary philanthropic impact strategist who, over the past two decades, has galvanized community engagement with internationally recognized brands including the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, ServiceNow, City of Mountain View, and Special Olympics.

Joanne PASTERNACK CEO Oliver+Rose

As the President + Chief Impact Officer of Oliver+Rose, Joanne works with professional athletes, legends, entertainers, philanthropists, corporate executives and high net worth individuals to amplify their impact to inspire change around their areas of passion, commitment and expertise. Through this role, she co-founded and serves as the chief strategist for Athletes’ Voices, launched in collaboration with Harvard University and cofacilitated by The Doug Williams Center and a consortium of the athletic conferences comprising 45 HBCUs.

Bill TIERNEY Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, University of Denver

William Tierney is the University of Denver’s head Men’s Lacrosse coach, Bill Tierney. Coach Tierney’s lifetime accomplishments include thirty-six years of coaching, seven national championships, twenty-seven regular season and conference tournament championships, and being the second coach to achieve over 400 wins as a coach. Additionally, he got the Johns Hopkins Men’s Soccer team, who previously had one winning year of the past thirty, to the NCAA championship in 1986 with no prior experience coaching or playing soccer. Coach Tierney discusses the relationship between teaching and coaching and how his background as a K-12 Physical Education teacher impacted his coaching style. He discusses his experience coaching football, soccer, and lacrosse and how he has collaborated with his students and athletes over the years. Dr. G asks Coach Tierney about the differences he noticed between coaching football and lacrosse, and Meg wonders about how he stays at the top after all these years.

After 33 years in the Sociology Department at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Jay retired from full-time teaching in 2005 but continues to do research and lecture as an awardwinning sociologist and author of THE academic textbook on the subject - Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies, with the 13th edition published in 2020 (McGraw-Hill Education).

Dr. Jay COAKLEY Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

His recent research has dealt with sport mega-event legacy issues, sport and national identity, youth sports, and sport and development. His youth sport focus has continued as he has worked with Project Play, sponsored by the Aspen Institute, and focused on reinventing youth sports so they are organized in age-appropriate terms and focused on the health and overall development and well-being of young people.

ADVISORY BOARD

ADVISORY BOARD

Kawser AMINE

SOCCER

SPKN welcomes Kawser Amine to its 2023 Advisory Board. Growing up in Afghanistan, Kawser was able to dream of things previously unheard of in her country. In 2007, Kawser was selected to play on the Afghanistan Women’s National Soccer Team, a dream that is sadly no longer available to young women of her country. Kawser fights every day to return education, soccer, and a voice back to the women of her country, and we are proud to have her as a part of Team SPKN.

Founder amd CEO at WSPL

The Women’s Solidarity for Peach and Leadership

BASEBALL J.P. ARENCIBIA

SPKN welcomes former MLB catcher and Fox Sports Analyst Jonathan Paul (J.P.) Arencibia to its 2023 Advisory Board. J.P. attended the University of Tennessee where he won the USA Baseball Richard W. "Dick" Case Player of the Year Award in 2006. Prior to the 2007 draft, Arencibia's defensive abilities were questioned. J.P. opened up about his mental health issues and hopes we can continue to have vulnerable conversations to change the world. We praise his efforts to destigmatize mental health struggles in sport and are so honored to have J.P. as a part of Team SPKN!

Former Professional Baseball Catcher & Fox Sports Studio Analyst

TRIATHLETE Rob BALUCAS

SPKN welcomes catalyst, inspirational speaker, and triathlete, Rob Balucas to its 2023 Advisory Board. Rob brings over 25 years of marketing and sales expertise spanning the likes of Nestlé and Costco as well as producing national speaking tours for NY Times best-selling authors. When not working on a website, training, or racing in a triathlon or handcycling event; he is also an inspirational speaker. People find Rob’s spinal cord injury as only a piece of his journey and lessons learned. We praise his efforts to coach others in building community, giving, leadership, self-determination, rebounding from disaster, and many others and we look forward to having Rob as a part of Team SPKN!

Former Professional Baseball Catcher & Fox Sports Studio Analyst

FOOTBALL Asante CLEVELAND

SPKN welcomes Asante Cleveland to its 2023 Advisory Board. Asante is a former NFL tight end who played college football at the University of Miami prior to being drafted to the NFL. Asante gave it everything he had while in the NFL, playing for the Patriots, 49ers, and Chargers. But before achieving success, Asante had to decide not to allow his childhood abuse define him. Asante wants others to know they are not alone as they work their way through the dark. We praise Asante's courage to share his story and are so fortunate to have Asante on Team SPKN.

Former Professional NFL Tight End & Media Operations Manager, Revive

Alison FOLEY

SOCCER

SPKN welcomes Alison Foley to its 2023 Advisory Board. As Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Boston College, Alison led the program to 13 NCAA berths (11 consecutive), eight Sweet 16’s, three Elite Eights, and the 2010 College Cup (Final Four). Her values and unwavering dedication to her players are a huge part of her success. Coach Foley’s work continues as staff for the Regional I ODP since 1998 and as an NCAA Regional Advisory Committee member. Additionally, she is an author, professor, and CEO at Foley Athletic Advisors. We are thrilled that Alison Foley is joining our Board.

Former Head Women’s Coach at Boston College & CEO, Foley Athletic Advising

Tresa GOWLAND

CREW

Tresa Gowland is a social entrepreneurship enthusiast, a servant leader, and a marketing advocate who understands competition. She rowed crew at the University of St. Thomas, so brings sport knowledge to the Board as well. At Moontide, Tresa helps to increase the intersection of meaningful missions of organizations in the public and private sectors, from local to global. She is dedicated to clients of all kinds, and known for nurturing trusted relationships, cultivating collaborative team environments, and growing business. We welcome Tresa to our Advisory Board and look forward to having her myriad attributes and accomplishments positively impact SPKN.

Partner & Managing Director, Moontide Agency

Shaun HAMILTON

JUMP ROPE

SPKN welcomes Shaun Hamilton, MPH, CHES, to its Advisory Board. Shaun is an international sport leader with over 15 years of national and international sports’ management experience. Shaun has a prolific understanding of the Olympic Movement and its impact on society. A college professor in the Health and Sports Department at University of Dayton, Shaun is skilled at philanthropy, analytical skills, coaching, communication, and team building, and helping non-profit organizations. Shaun’s comprehensive understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion and addressing social determinants in sport make him a valued member of Team SPKN.

President, International Jump Rope Union

FOOTBALL

SPKN is thrilled that our good friend Coach Jim Harbaugh is joining our Advisory Board. Former quarterback and now coach, Jim Harbaugh is the current head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines where he played from 1983 to 1986. After college, Jim played for 14 seasons, from 1987 to 2000, in the National Football League. Previous to arriving back at Michigan, Jim was the head coach of the San Diego Toreros (2004–2006), the Stanford Cardinal (2007–2010), and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers (2011–2014). Jim brings his wealth of knowledge from both sides of the football to make SPKN the best.

Former NFL Quarterback & Head Football Coach for the University of Michigan

Brittany Hochevar

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

SPKN is delighted to welcome multiple US Olympic Medalists, Brittany Hochevar, to its Advisory Board. Brittany has played on the FIVB World Tour since 2009, finishing second at Xiamen (China) 4-Star in 2018. She won bronze with the US Women’s National Team in the 2003 Pan American Games, Silver at the American Cup, and Gold at the 2003 NORCECA Championship. Brittany’s determination and understanding of women’s Olympic sports will prove invaluable to Team SPKN. We are excited to have Brittany’ share her perspective and ideas.

Former NFL Quarterback & Head Football Coach for the University of Michigan

Odessa JENKINS (O.J)

FOOTBALL

SPKN is pumped to welcome Odessa Jenkins to its Advisory Board. OJ is a world-class athlete, coach, and executive leader. Her accomplishments include founder of the Women’s National Football Conference; recognized leader in Coaching, DE&I, Team Dynamics, and SAAS technology; executive leadership in privately funded start-ups and fortune 1,000 public companies; President of the e-learning company Emtrain; former executive leader at YourCause. A disrupter in sports, Jenkins is building one of the premier sports leagues in the country, creating opportunities, inclusion, and equity in football for women and girls. OJ will be an incredible addition to Team SPKN.

Founder and Director of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC)

Melissa KUTCHER-RINEHART

GYMNASTICS

SPKN is proud to welcome University of Denver’s gymnastics coach, Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, to its Advisory Board. Her accolades are many: leading the Pioneers to their first-ever: top five national rankings, NCAA Division I Team Final appearance, and NCAA regional team championship; 2019 National Head Coach of the Year; Region 2 Head Coach of the Year; Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year. Additionally, Melissa had nine gymnasts named Scholastic All-Americans and eight named to the Academic-All Big 12 team. Her experience with positively impacting the development of the entire young athlete will be a huge asset to Team SPKN.

Gynmanstics Coach, University of Denver

Clarisse MACHANGUANA

BASKETBALL

In 2014, Clarisse Machanguana founded the The Clarisse Machanguana Foundation (FCM), a Maputo-based, non-profit organization focused on empowering Mozambican youth through its three primary pillars: health, education, and sport. Clarisse is Mozambique’s most successful basketball player with a career spanning 22-years including playing in the WNBA and internationally. She was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador on 20 May 2016 for her work utilizing sport to build life skills and self-esteem in the Mozambican youth. We heartily applaud her efforts and look forward to our work together.

Head Women’s Gynmanstics Coach, University of Denver

Alex SARAMA

BASKETBALL

Player Improvement Specialist for Paris Basketball in the EuroCup & Head Coach of College Prep in Borgomanero, Italy

SPKN welcomes Alex SARAMA to its Advisory Board. Alex educates basketball coaches on team and player development around the world, focusing on stimulating coaches’ thinking by combining personal and practical experiences with empirical evidence-based knowledge. Using the Constraint Led Approach underpinned by Ecological Dynamics, Alex specializes first in helping coaches make sense of the research and then putting it immediately into practice. Other achievements include: consultant for the NBA, NCAA, and professional teams around the world; Player Improvement Specialist for Paris Basketball in the EuroCup; Head Coach of College Prep in Borgomanero, Italy. What a fantastic addition to Team SPKN.

Chris WADDELL

SIT-SKIER & TRACK ATHLETE

SPKN is stoked to welcome Chris Waddell to our Advisory Board. Chris is an American Paralympic sit-skier and wheelchair-track athlete. As a sit-skier, Waddell medaled in the 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002 Winter Paralympics. As a wheelchair track racer, Chris competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Paralympics winning a silver medal in the 200m T53 (2000) and setting a T53 world record time (2004) which still stands. Chris was inducted into the National Disabled Ski Hall of Fame by Disabled Sports USA and the Paralympic Hall of Fame. Chris will be an integral part of Team SPKN.

Professional Athlete and Inspirational Speaker

Chuck WALTON

ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT

Chuck Walton is a beloved one-of-a-kind. Chuck began interning for BET in 2010 while attending Howard University where he worked in the production department and assisted on the show “Sunday’s Best”. From there he hopped from an internship with The Washington Redskins back to being the official voice of the Howard Football and Basketball teams. Chuck was pulled away by ESPN 980, and has since had a voice in the ESPY’s, NBA Playoffs, TMZ — you name it. We came to love Chuck as the Official Voice of the Golden State Warriors. As a kindred spirit, Chuck, welcome to Team SPKN!

Founder and CEO

Academy Managmenet Group

Allison WAGNER

Swimming

SPKN is thrilled to welcome Allison Wagner, OLY to its 2023 Advisory Board. As an Olympic Silver Medalist and former World-Record Holder (Swimming, Individual Medley - 1996) we praise Allison for her transition into the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency where she passionately advocates for important causes: protecting the integrity of Olympic & Paralympic sport; advocating for athletes’ rights; climate action; the betterment of healthcare; and art, sport, and health education are all part of her daily efforts. We are so fortunate to have her expertise help guide us in our endeavor in building the most trusted sport knowledge and resource center.

Director of Athlete and International Relations at U.S.

Anti-Doping Agency

Chris WEEMS

BASKETBALL

SPKN is ecstatic to welcome Kris Weems, Warriors’ Athlete Development Coach, to its Advisory Board. Kris is already an active contributor to SPKN; we are beyond appreciative of his shared insight and knowledge. A four-year basketball player at Stanford, Weems has an impressive list of accomplishments which include Pac-10 First Team, Final Four appearance, NBA player, Warriors G-League Head Coach, and now Development Coach at the show; however, Chris still is proudest of his sociology degree and how he uses it on a daily basis. We look forward to Kris continuing to be an active member of Team SPKN.

Golden State Warriors

Athlete Development

Dr. Jen WELTER

FOOTBALL

SPKN welcomes Jen Welter to its Advisory Board. Jen is best known as the first female to coach in the NFL, however, before that position she was the first female running back in men’s professional football. Jen is also a sports psychologist and gold medalist and believes greatness is a choice you make over and over. Following the NFL, Welter became the Head Coach of the First Australian Women's National Team (2017), joined the advisory board of the Pro Football HOF's Game for Life Academy, and wrote her first book Play Big, Lessons in Living Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL. As a speaker, coach, and sport psychologist, we welcome Jen’s “greatness” with open arms to Team SPKN.

XFL Vegas Linebackers Coach, 2 x Gold Medal Winner