Jerry Colangelo’s professional career began when he was named head scout and sales / promotion manager for the expansion Chicago Bulls. This position led him to an opportunity, at age 26, to become the youngest General Manager in sports history with the Phoenix Suns. In 1987, Colangelo coordinated a group of investors to purchase the Phoenix Suns for $44.5 million.

Rising to the ranks of Owner and CEO of the Phoenix Suns, the team became the 9th richest franchise in all of sports. Colangelo sold the franchise for a record $401 million in June, 2007. Colangelo and partners at JDM Partners developed projects in Phoenix such as the US Airways Center (formerly the America West Arena), Chase Field (formerly the Bank One Ballpark) and various other ventures.

Mr. Colangelo brought major league baseball to Phoenix and served as Chairman and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This franchise went from expansion team to World Series Champions in just four years. He was also instrumental in the startup of the Phoenix Mercury team of the WNBA, the Arizonia Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the relocation of the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL to Phoenix, which later became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Former Chairman of the NBA’s Board of Governors, Colangelo has had a major influence on the growth of the NBA. He was Chairman of the Expansion Committee that brought the NBA to Canada.

As current Chairman and Managing Director of the USA Men’s Basketball Team, Colangelo won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2012, Colangelo and Team USA defended the gold medal in London at the Summer Olympics.

Colangelo transcended sports and business in 2011 to help establish the Colangelo School of Sports Business at Grand Canyon University, an academic program unique to the private college for students looking to major in Sports Management. In March of 2013, Jerry was retained by the University to serve as a special assistant to the president as the institution begins its transition into NCAA Division I athletics. In addition to sports, Colangelo has a passion for real estate. A principal in Phoenix’s JDM Partners, Colangelo and his partners David Eaton and Mel Shultz own the largest amount of entitled land in the Phoenix area in addition to the Wigwam resort and Arizona Biltmore Golf Club.